Key takeaways
Fluconazole (Diflucan) and metronidazole (Flagyl) are both medications used to treat infections, but they belong to different classes and treat different types of infections. Fluconazole is an azole antifungal used to treat fungal infections like vaginal yeast infections and oral thrush, while metronidazole is a nitroimidazole antibiotic used for bacterial and parasitic infections, such as bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis. Fluconazole is available in oral and injectable forms and is typically taken once daily, whereas metronidazole is taken orally, often multiple times a day. Both medications are available as lower-cost generics. Common side effects of fluconazole include headache and nausea, while metronidazole can cause a metallic taste and nausea. You should avoid alcohol with both medications, but metronidazole has a more severe interaction with alcohol, causing symptoms like nausea and headaches. Fluconazole can interact with many medications, including warfarin and atorvastatin, while metronidazole can interact with disulfiram and lithium.
