Inclusion Criteria

Concurrent Medication:

Allowed:

• Antiviral therapy (AZT, DHPG).
• Prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
• Treatment for intercurrent opportunistic infection.

Concurrent Treatment:

Allowed:

• Radiation therapy for mucocutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma.

Patients must have:

• AIDS.
• Evidence of Cryptococcal neoformans in culture or lumbar CSF OR clinical and CSF findings compatible with cryptococcal meningitis.
• No evidence of acute or chronic meningitis of any etiology other than cryptococcosis.
• Life expectancy of at least 2 weeks.

Prior Medication:

Allowed:

• Prior antiviral therapy (AZT, DHPG).
• Prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded:

• Relapsing on maintenance triazole therapy for cryptococcal meningitis.
• Unable to take oral medication.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

• Concomitant use of any antifungal agent other than study drug.

Patients with the following prior conditions are excluded:

History of allergy to or intolerance of imidazoles, azoles, or flucytosine.

Prior Medication:

Excluded:

• More than 1 mg/kg amphotericin B.
• Systemic antifungal agents within 7 days prior to study entry.