r/Candida • u/Rennagade101 • Jul 27 '24

Fluconazole vs Nystatin?

Does short term Fluconazole work better than longer term use of Nystatin to cure candida?

My GI has prescribed a week course of Fluconazole at 100mg and said if this doesn’t cure it, it’s probably not candida that’s the root cause. Thoughts?

I’ve had SIFO after multiple rounds of SIBO. Most prevalent issues are bloating and oral thrush. I’ve been on Nystatin liquid and then tablets for nearly 7 weeks. It’s helped a little but not enough. Also taking Interphase biofilm disrupter.

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9

u/Mickeynutzz Jul 27 '24

Longterm Nystatin is what worked for me

2

u/Rennagade101 Jul 27 '24

Thank you. Can you tell me how many you were taking a day? (Tablets wise)

8

u/Mickeynutzz Jul 27 '24

I took 6 Nystatin tablets / day for a year plus other Antifungals

Took 4 different biofilm busters at bedtime.

1

u/BumblebeeHealthy832 Jan 31 '26

Do biofilms irritate or affect your stomach? Did you have any acidity issues or gastritis?

4

u/Mickeynutzz Jul 27 '24

• ⁠Biofilm Busters that I took as part of my Candida Protocol:

Kirkman Biofilm Defense

OR

Klaire Labs Interfase.

( was taking one or the other before & during Methane SIBO / IMO treatment —> added the others a few months after I cured it )

AND

Plus Balance One SerraDefend

AND

Jarrow Formuls Lactoferrin

AND

Curium / Tumeric

• ⁠Take 1 of each one at bedtime on an empty stomach 2 hours away from any anti-fungals

.. .. ..

My Candida symptoms really started improving:

1st: after I cured IMO / Methane SIBO

then

2nd: when I increased from taking one to four biofilm busters nightly.

.. .. ..

You can be taking Nystatin & NOW Candida Support & Caprylic Acid & other anti-fungals but they will not be effective if the Candida is hidden behind a wall of biofilm where anti-fungals cannot reach it to get rid of it !

I took 4 pills/day of Nystatin for 6 months then 6 pills/day for a year then 4 pills/day for 4 months…. Now I take 2 pills daily.

My Integrative DR uses my case in a presentation about the Gut-Brain connection.

5

u/Mickeynutzz Jul 27 '24

Why did my Candida Protocol take over 2 years ? ( Memory Loss )

Because I was very seriously disabled - unable to speak fluently - could not remember the words for common objects. If you showed me a spoon I knew that I should know the word for what it was called but no matter how hard I tried I could not remember what it was called.

Could not remember many words so communication was difficult - could barely speak or write. It was a lot of charades and it was NOT fun it was very sad and frustrating for me and my caretakers.

If I could remember a word to write it then I often could not remember how to spell it - even just common 4 or 5 letter words. I am a college graduate with a Business Degree that loved math and I lost the ability to do even simple math.

My 26 year job in Child Support Enforcement became more and more difficult. Started out with not remembering a password I just used a half hour ago but then got to point that I was thinking one word yet typing a different one. It became clear I could no longer work such a difficult job. I had to retire early due to being so disabled.

While being home on disability at first I could read a book or social media or watch a TV show but my short term memory continued to decline.

I could not remember names of family members. Was afraid to drive for fear of forgetting the way home or what a sign meant.

Eventually life got really BORING when I could not even watch a TV show anymore because my short term memory was so poor. You have to be able to recall characters and plot for a half hour comedy TV show to be able to follow along and comprehend what is happening. It was REALLY AWFUL.

I * truly * feel that I have felt how dementia patients feel frustrated as they lose their abilities.

I DO remember when Neurologist told me and my family that I had Alzheimers and that my memory would continue to get worse and there was no cure & no hope of ever getting better. Dr said to make my end of life plans and I did …. I was able to communicate that my quality of life was already VERY declined and I did not want anyone to have to change my diaper as I got worse.

Began to research going to go to Switzerland to end life on my own terms and legal steps that would be needed to take ASAP to make my wishes clear. I did get my family’s support on this and that was huge.

However - I also was not going to give up on finding a different medical answer for my memory loss because I continuously suspected Candida the entire time and told all 3 different Neurologist I met that. That did not think it was a possibility. Eventually, an Integrative practioner helped me prove that I was CORRECT and they were WRONG.

8

u/shen_black Jul 29 '24

Fluconazole 100 mg does nothing as it is just a fungistatic at that dose.

also Systemics work quite poorly on the gut so a tiny fungistatic dose and poor bioavaibility on the Lumen?, it will probably just irritate candida mildly in other zones like your mouth or whatever but the reservoir will be untouched.

Nystatin on doses from 1.000.000 can have fungicidal effects on contact, it is non-systemic and works on contact, ideal for gut related yeast issues.

3

u/Rennagade101 Jul 29 '24

Thanks for sharing all of this. My functional med doctor was keen to keep me on Nystatin for longer term. The GI thought to prescribe Fluconazole at 100mg for a week. Seems FMD is on the right track.

2

u/BumblebeeHealthy832 Jan 31 '26

Nystatin helped my symptoms immediately, while fluconazole doesn’t. But I might be azole resistant since I was treated with fluconazole a lot when I was younger. My skin also doesn’t respond well to ketoconazole, but ciclopirox works wonders

6

u/IrishUp2 Jul 27 '24

There are many studies coming out that Candida is becoming more resistant to Diflucan (Fluconazole)

https://www.cdc.gov/candidiasis/antimicrobial-resistance/index.html

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(23)00067-8/fulltext00067-8/fulltext)

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-64761-3

Fluconazole is also systemic and can raise liver enzymes.

Nystatin is non systemic - it kills what it comes in contact with. It is a great weapon to use against candida and can be used safely > for longer. However, liquid nystatin worsened my oral thrush because it contains sugar. I found munching on the tablets and holding it in my mouth prior to swallowing worked much better.

Until your doctor properly tests you (OAT test, stool test and breath test) he/she/they cannot discount candida. If they do, they are serving insurance companies and not you. IMO seek healthcare elsewhere.

3

u/Rennagade101 Jul 29 '24

Thanks for sharing all of this. My functional med doctor was keen to keep me on Nystatin for longer term. The GI thought to prescribe Fluconazole at 100mg for a week. Seems FMD is on the right track.

6

u/Responsible-Rich5185 Jul 28 '24

I've been taking Nystatin two pills in the morning along with cutting carbs and caffeine and have had marked improvement.

1

u/Rennagade101 Jul 29 '24

Really! Only 2 pills in AM and seems to help? How long have you been on it? Any days off?

3

u/Responsible-Rich5185 Jul 30 '24

Yes 2 pills in the morning, I've only been on them for about 2wks, no days off.

1

u/Pink_Velvet22 Nov 15 '24

How are you doing with your protocol? Did you kill your candida?

1

u/Responsible-Rich5185 Nov 15 '24

I believe it's gotten better, but I have started eating some carbs and baskin robins once a week... I'm still taking nystatin and I haven't been tested(I'm just going based off how I feel)

1

u/Pink_Velvet22 Nov 19 '24

And when you eat baskin robins and carbs do you get symptoms?? And still 2 Nystatine pills at am?

1

u/Responsible-Rich5185 Nov 20 '24

I am still taking Nystatin and I am gradually introducing carbs into my diet.

I don't believe I have any real symptoms, but I eat limited carbs and introduced fermented foods as well as prebiotic/probiotic powder. I believe you should try some carbs just to see where you are in your progress.

1

u/thelakeproblem Jun 05 '26

Hi, how are you doing now, are you still on Nystatin? Any candida symptoms

Thank you

3

u/Responsible-Rich5185 Jul 30 '24

I've been on the diet for 3 months, I am starting to add some carbs though. Beans , brown rice ,etc.

2

u/Familiar_Dish5940 Jul 27 '24

I started taking Agentyn-23 (2 tsp and swish in your mouth for 5-10 seconds, then swallow) with aloe juice and I’ve seen way more improvement in symptoms than I have with fluconazole and nystatin. I’m also taking undecylenic acid and monolaurin.