Drug Status in USA : Approved Drug Status in Canada : Approved
pronunciation
pronounced as (kee toe kon' na zole)
Why is this medication prescribed?
Ketoconazole is used to treat fungal infections when other medications are not available or cannot be tolerated. Ketoconazole should not be used to treat fungal meningitis (infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord caused by a fungus) or fungal nail infections. Ketoconazole is in a class of antifungals called imidazoles. It works by slowing the growth of fungi that cause infection.
How should this medicine be used?
Ketoconazole comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day Take ketoconazole at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take ketoconazole exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor may increase your dose if your condition does not improve.
You may need to take ketoconazole for 6 months or longer to cure your infection completely. Continue to take ketoconazole until your doctor tells you that you should stop, even if you feel better. Do not stop taking ketoconazole without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking ketoconazole too soon, your infection may come back after a short time.
What are the precautions to be followed?
Before taking ketoconazole,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ketoconazole or any other medications or any of the ingredients in ketoconazole tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor if you are taking alprazolam (Niravam, Xanax);eplerenone (Inspra); ergot alkaloids such as ergotamine (Ergomar, in Cafergot, in Migergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E 45, Migranal), and methylergonovine (Methergine); felodipine (Plendil); irinotecan (Camptosar); lovastatin (Mevacor); lurasidone (Latuda); midazolam (Versed); nisoldipine (Sular); simvastatin (Zocor); tolvaptan (Samsca); and triazolam (Halcion). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take ketoconazole if you are taking one or more of these medications or any of the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: aliskiren (Tekturna, in Valturna, in Amturnide); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and warfarin (Coumadin); aprepitant (Emend); aripiprazole (Abilify); atorvastatin (Lipitor); bosentan (Tracleer); budesonide (Uceris); buspirone (BuSpar); carbamazepine (Tegretol); calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); cancer medications such as bortezomib (Velcade); busulfan (Myleran); dasatinib (Sprycel); docetaxel (Taxotere), erlotinib (Tarceva); ixabepilone (Ixempra); lapatinib (Tykerb); nilotinib (Tasigna);paclitaxel (Taxol), trimetrexate (Neutrexin), vincristine (Vincasar), vinblastine, and vinorelbine (Navelbine); ciclesonide (Alvesco); cilostazol (Pletal); cinacalcet (Sensipar); colchicine (Colcrys, in Col-Probenecid); dexamethasone; digoxin (Lanoxin); eletriptan (Relpax); fentanyl (Abstral, Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Lazanda, Onsolis); fesoterodine (Toviaz); fluticasone (Flonase, Flovent); haloperidol (Haldol); HIV medications such as darunavir (Prezista), efavirenz (Sustiva), fosamprenavir (Lexiva),indinavir (Crixivan), maraviroc (Selzentry), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase); immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), everolimus (Afinitor, Zortress),sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf); imatinib (Gleevec); medications for erectile dysfunction such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra); medications for indigestion, heartburn, or ulcers such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), lansoprazole (Prevacid), nizatidine (Axid), omeprazole (Prilosec), and ranitidine (Zantac); medications to treat tuberculosis such as isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); methylprednisolone (Medrol); nadolol (Corgard); oxycodone (Oxecta, Oxy Contin, in Percocet, others); phenytoin (Dilantin); praziquantel (Biltricide); quetiapine (Seroquel); ramelteon (Rozerem); repaglinide (Prandin, in PrandiMet); risperidone (Risperdal); salmeterol (Serevent, in Advair);saxagliptin (Onglyza); solifenacin (Vesicare); immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf); tamsulosin (Flomax, in Jalyn); telithromycin (Ketek); and tolterodine (Detrol) . Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with ketoconazole, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
if you are taking an antacid containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium (Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, others), take it 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take ketoconazole.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had the conditions mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section or adrenal insufficiency (condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough steroid hormones).
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking ketoconazole, call your doctor.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking ketoconazole.
you should know that drinking alcoholic beverages (including wine, beer, and medications that contain alcohol such as cough syrup) while taking ketoconazole increases the risk that you will develop liver damage and may cause unpleasant symptoms such as flushing, rash, nausea, headache, and swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs if you drink alcohol while you are taking ketoconazole.
What are possible side effects of this medication ?
Ketoconazole may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
headache
stomach pain
diarrhea
constipation
heartburn
gas
change in ability to taste food
dry mouth
change in tongue color
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
nervousness
numbness, burning, or tingling of the hands or feet
muscle pain
hair loss
flushing
chills
sensitivity to light
nosebleeds
breast enlargement in males
decrease in sexual ability
Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
rash
hives
itching
swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
hoarseness
difficulty breathing or swallowing
tiredness or weakness
Ketoconazole may cause a decrease in the number of sperm (male reproductive cells) produced, especially if it is taken at high doses. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication if you are a man and would like to have children.
Ketoconazole may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
Drug Category/Class
Antifungal Agents
14-alpha Demethylase Inhibitors
Genito Urinary System and Sex Hormones
Antiinfectives for Systemic Use
Dermatologicals
Gynecological Antiinfectives and Antiseptics
Imidazole and Triazole Derivatives
Antifungals for Topical Use
Antifungals for Dermatological Use
Antimycotics for Systemic Use
Imidazole Derivatives
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inhibitors
Cytochrom
Prescribed
For the treatment of the following systemic fungal infections: candidiasis, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, oral thrush, candiduria, blastomycos...