ketoconazole

What is the most important information I should know about ketoconazole?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

What is ketoconazole?

Ketoconazole is an antifungal medication that is used to treat certain infections caused by fungus.

This medicine should be used only when you cannot use other antifungal medications. Ketoconazole can cause serious harm to your liver that may result in liver transplant or cause death.

Ketoconazole may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ketoconazole?

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with ketoconazole. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:

• cisapride;
• colchicine;
• irinotecan;
• methadone;
• tolvaptan;
• antipsychotic medicine --pimozide, lurasidone;
• cholesterol medication --lovastatin, simvastatin, and others;
• ergot medicine --dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine;
• heart medication --disopyramide, dofetilide, dronedarone, eplerenone, felodipine, nisoldipine, quinidine, ranolazine; or
• a sedative --alprazolam, midazolam, or triazolam.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver problems;
• long QT syndrome (in you or a family member); or
• problems with your adrenal gland.

How should I take ketoconazole?

Your doctor will perform blood tests to make sure you do not have conditions that would prevent you from safely using ketoconazole.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

You may need to use this medicine for up to 6 months.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Ketoconazole will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

While using ketoconazole, you may need frequent blood tests to check your liver function.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking ketoconazole?

What are the possible side effects of ketoconazole?

• fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out);
• unusual weakness or tiredness, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting; or
• liver problems --upper stomach pain, fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain
• breast swelling;
• headache, dizziness; or
• abnormal liver function tests.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect ketoconazole?

Some medicines can make it harder for your body to absorb ketoconazole. If you take an antacid, take it 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take ketoconazole. Tell your doctor if you also take a stomach acid reducer, such as Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, Zantac, and others.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect ketoconazole. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about ketoconazole.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 12.02. Revision date: 2/24/2020.