Fluconazole and Nystatin to Combat Yeast

Author: Bryana Gregory, PharmD, RPh, Physician Liaison

Do you have Candida overgrowth or yeast overgrowth symptoms such as constipation, bloating, abdominal pain, heartburn, gas and indigestion? You may be tempted to try over-the-counter medications for symptom relief, only to find that the symptoms keep coming back. Have you ever wondered if you could benefit from a yeast-free or Candida diet?

Yeast overgrowth, also known as Candidiasis, is a common health concern that affects many people. This condition can manifest itself in various ways, from digestive disturbances to skin issues, and even fatigue and brain fog. Fortunately, there are effective treatments available to combat this fungal overgrowth and restore balance to the body.

Two commonly prescribed medications, Fluconazole and Nystatin, have gained recognition for their efficacy in eliminating yeast overgrowth. In this blog, we’ll delve into the world of yeast overgrowth, explore its symptoms and causes, and discuss how Fluconazole and Nystatin can play a crucial role in bringing relief to those Candida-related health symptoms.

What is Candida Overgrowth?

Candida albicans is a fungus which lives in your intestines and may overgrow due to an imbalance in the normal bacteria of the colon. Normal healthy bacteria and Candida albicans should be in balance, but with stress, inflammation and poor diet, the two can easily fall out of balance. Candida produces 180 chemical toxins capable of causing many health symptoms. As these yeast toxins are absorbed in the colon and enter the bloodstream, they can cause symptoms in other areas of your body, so the list of possible symptoms is endless.

What causes yeast or Candida overgrowth?

If you have ever taken an antibiotic, birth control pills or steroids, or experienced prolonged stress and inflammation, then you are susceptible to Candida overgrowth and its varied symptoms.

What health problems does yeast cause?

Yeast is in the same family as mold and fungus. Once yeast overgrows in the colon, it is like weeds in a garden. It cannot be eradicated unless it is killed. Yeast in the system causes two problems:

1) It produces toxins which depress the immune system and make it more reactive to allergies, which leads to more infections and more antibiotics, the killing of more good bacteria, and a further increase in yeast levels.

2) An individual with increased levels of yeast in his system often becomes allergic to yeast, and therefore, allergic to food products which contain yeast, such as wine, beer, breads, etc.

Once yeast is overgrown in the large intestine, there is an imbalance in the normal microbacterial flora of the colon so that we get less normal healthy bacteria, and more yeast.

Common Symptoms of Yeast or Candida Overgrowth

Bloating                     Headaches

Belching                     Fatigue

Excessive gas            Skin rashes

Cramps                       Immune suppression

Pain                             Chemical sensitivity

Indigestion                Vaginal yeast infections

Constipation              Depression

Heartburn                   Anxiety

Diarrhea                      Inability to concentrate

Joint pain                   Muscle aches

Hives                           Thrush, a white coating on the tongue

Athlete’s foot             Fungal infections under fingernails and toenails

How Do You Control Yeast Overgrowth?

In order to combat yeast overgrowth, it is essential that you starve the yeast and replace the normal bacteria in the colon, which is Lactobacillus Acidophilus. We recommend a yeast-free, grain-free eating program that eliminates dietary sources of yeast and other fungi, vinegar and fermented products, sugar and carbohydrate-rich foods that provide nourishment to yeast.

Medications to Treat Yeast/Candida

Many people with yeast-overgrowth are prescribed an antifungal drug called Nystatin. Nystatin kills yeast in the spore form in the digested food products in the colon. This drug has been in use for over fifty years and is a safe, effective agent for eradicating yeast overgrowth in the colon. It is not absorbed systemically, and it does not affect the beneficial bacteria that normally inhabit the colon. People stay on nystatin for one to three months or longer, depending on their symptoms and yeast antibody levels.

Because nystatin only kills yeast in the spore form and its effects are confined primarily to the colon, providers also prescribe a course of a systemic antifungal medication called Fluconazole. The length of treatment is dependent upon the severity of the yeast sensitivity, determined by symptoms and yeast antibody levels. Fluconazole helps ensure that yeast cells in the mycelial stage are eradicated from the mucous membranes throughout the body.

You will also need to restore the good bacteria in your gut with probiotics, particularly  Lactobacillus Acidophilus, the normal bacteria of the colon. Once the yeast is killed, the normal Lactobacillus Acidophilus must be restored.

We Are Here to Help

Are you starting a yeast-free eating program, or Candida diet? Fluconazole and Nystatin do require a prescription from your provider. Please call our pharmacists today with any questions about Fluconazole and Nystatin or about your compounded prescription needs at 281-828-9088. It will be our privilege to serve you!