IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a summary and does not contain all possible information about this product. For complete information about this product or your specific health needs, ask your health care professional. Always seek the advice of your health care professional if you have any questions about this product or your medical condition. This information is not intended as individual medical advice and does not substitute for the knowledge and judgment of your health care professional. This information does not contain any assurances that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you.
KETOCONAZOLE TABLET - ORAL
(kee-toe-CON-uh-zole)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Nizoral
WARNING: Rarely, ketoconazole has caused severe (sometimes fatal) liver problems. Immediately tell your doctor if you develop symptoms of liver problems (persistent nausea, stomach/abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing eyes/skin, severe tiredness). Your doctor will perform liver function tests while you are taking ketoconazole to monitor for side effects. Do not drink alcohol while taking this medication because doing so increases the risk of serious liver problems.
Ketoconazole should never be taken with the following medications: cisapride, astemizole, terfenadine. Doing so has caused severe (sometimes fatal) heart rhythm problems. Although astemizole and terfenadine are no longer available, if you have any of these medications, take them to your pharmacist for proper disposal.
USES: This drug is used to treat certain fungal infections of the skin/mouth/lungs/bladder (e.g., severe athlete's foot, oral thrush, Coccidioides, candiduria). Some of these infections may require several months of treatment.
OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.
This drug may also be used to treat certain protozoal infections (e.g., Acanthamoeba, Leishmaniasis), prevention of certain fungal infections in patients with cancer or HIV, Cushing's syndrome, treatment of advanced prostate cancer, and treatment of high calcium levels in the blood from sarcoidosis.
HOW TO USE: Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor by mouth with or without food, usually once daily. Do not take ketoconazole within 2 hours of taking an antacid (liquid or tablets). Doing so can prevent the absorption of the medication.
Dosage is based on your age, weight, medical condition, and response to therapy.
It is very important to continue taking this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
This medication works best when the amount of drug in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take this drug at evenly spaced intervals. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.
Do not take more or less of this drug than prescribed or stop taking it even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Skipping or changing your dose without approval from your doctor may cause the infection to get worse or make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant).
Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens after 7 days.
SIDE EFFECTS: See also Warning section.
Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, and gas may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: headache, dizziness, sleepiness, diarrhea, enlarged breasts in men, decreased sexual ability, mental/mood changes (depression, thoughts of suicide), unusual dreams, eye sensitivity to bright light, tingling/numbness of hands or feet, hair loss, muscle aches.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: fever, chills, persistent sore throat, easy bruising/bleeding, severe tiredness, pale lips/nails/skin, fast heartbeat, fast breathing, headache, vision changes.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Contact your doctor for medical advice about side effects. The following numbers do not provide medical advice, but in the US you may report side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you may call Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
PRECAUTIONS: Before taking ketoconazole, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other "azole" drugs (e.g., fluconazole, itraconazole); or if you have any other allergies.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver problems, hepatitis B, alcohol use, low testosterone levels, low levels of a certain hormone (e.g., low cortisol, Addison's disease, adrenal insufficiency), decreased or absent stomach acid production (e.g., achlorhydria).
This drug may rarely make you dizzy or drowsy. Use caution while driving, using machinery, or doing any activity that requires alertness. Avoid alcoholic beverages while taking this medication because they increase the risk of dizziness/drowsiness as well as serious liver problems.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
Ketoconazole passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: See also Warning and How to Use sections.
Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: triazolam, midazolam, estazolam, drugs that decrease stomach acid (e.g., omeprazole, lansoprazole), alfuzosin, conivaptan, dofetilide, eletriptan, eplerenone, ergot alkaloids (e.g., bromocriptine, ergotamine, dihydroergotamine), isoniazid, ivabradine, vardenafil, irinotecan, nevirapine, amiodarone, pimozide, ranolazine, cholesterol lowering drugs (HMG-COA reductase inhibitors such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin, cerivastatin).
If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting ketoconazole.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: sucralfate, H2 blockers (e.g., ranitidine, cimetidine), rifampin, warfarin, phenytoin, sildenafil, tadalafil, fentanyl, HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., lopinavir, ritonavir, darunavir, tipranavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir), efavirenz, certain drugs that weaken the immune system (cyclosporine, sirolimus, tacrolimus), certain chemotherapy drugs (dasatinib, lapatinib, sunitinib), theophylline, erythromycin, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, digoxin, certain drugs for diabetes (e.g., glyburide, glipizide), trazodone, quetiapine, tolterodine, solifenacin, zolpidem.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.
NOTES: Do not share this medication with others.
Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., liver tests) should be performed regularly to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.
Keep all medical and laboratory appointments.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Do not take the missed dose if it is within 2 hours of your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Information last revised July 2008 Copyright(c) 2008 First DataBank, Inc.