Ketoconazole (By mouth)
kee-toe-KON-a-zole
Treats fungal infections.
Drug classes
Antifungal, Steroid Synthesis Inhibitor (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Ketoconazole is used to treat serious fungal or yeast infections, such as candidiasis (thrush, oral thrush), blastomycosis (Gilchrist’s disease), coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever, San Joaquin Valley fever), histoplasmosis (Darling’s disease), chromoblastomycosis (chromomycosis), or paracoccidioidomycosis (South American blastomycosis, Lutz-Splendore-Almeida disease). This medicine works by killing the fungus or yeast, or preventing its growth.
Ketoconazole is also used to treat parasitic fungal infections on the skin (such as athlete’s foot or ringworm) that cannot be treated with topical medicine or griseofulvin, or for patients who cannot take griseofulvin.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Tablet
Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
It is best to take this medicine with food or milk.
Take all of the medicine in your prescription to clear up your infection, even if you feel better after the first few doses.
This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.
Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Do not use this medicine together with alprazolam, cisapride, colchicine, disopyramide, dofetilide, dronedarone, eplerenone, felodipine, irinotecan, lovastatin, lurasidone, methadone, nisoldipine, oral midazolam, pimozide, quinidine, ranolazine, simvastatin, tolvaptan, triazolam, or ergot medicines (such as dihydroergotamine, ergometrine, ergotamine, methylergometrine).
There are many medicines that can affect how ketoconazole works. Tell your doctor if you are using carbamazepine, colchicine, dasatinib, everolimus, isoniazid, lapatinib, nilotinib, phenytoin, rifabutin, rivaroxaban, salmeterol, sirolimus, tamsulosin, telithromycin, temsirolimus, or warfarin.
If you take medicine to reduce stomach acid (such as antacids), take it at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take ketoconazole.
When Not To Use
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to ketoconazole or similar medicines.
Warnings
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or if you have liver disease, heart rhythm problems (such as QT prolongation), adrenal problems, or stomach problems.
Do not breastfeed while you are using this medicine.
This medicine may cause the following problems:
Liver problems Changes in heart rhythm, such as a condition called QT prolongationDo not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse. Keep all appointments.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in your upper stomach, yellow skin or eyes
Fainting, dizziness, lightheadedness
Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Problems having sex
Swollen breasts (in males)
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Nizoral
There may be other brand names for this medicine.