ITRACANAZOLE

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Sporanox

GENERIC NAME(S): ITRACONAZOLE

Description: Itraconazole inhibits cell membrane function of susceptible fungi by decreasing ergosterol synthesis by interfering w/ cytochrome P450 activity. It also has antiprotozoal activity.

Uses

Itraconazole is an azole antifungal medication used to treat a variety of fungal infections.

How to use itraconazole

Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking itraconazole and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth with a full meal, usually once or twice daily or as directed by your doctor. The capsules must be swallowed whole.

The dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment, and other medications you may be taking. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Some conditions may require you to take this medication for 1 week each month until therapy is completed.

This medication works best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take this drug at evenly spaced intervals. If you are taking this medication on a schedule other than every day (e.g., 1 week every month), it may help to mark your calendar with a reminder.

You may need to take this medication for several months to treat the infection. Continue to take this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear. Stopping the medication too early may result in a return of the infection.

Take itraconazole 2 hours before or 1 hour after antacids. Antacids may decrease the absorption of this medication. Also, take this medication with a cola drink if you have decreased or no stomach acid (e.g., achlorhydria) or if you take drugs that decrease stomach acid (e.g., H2 blockers such as ranitidine, proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole). Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

The tablet/capsule and solution forms of this medication deliver different amounts of medication and may be used for different purposes. Do not switch dosage forms without your doctor’s permission and directions.

Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Warnings

See Drug Interactions section.

This drug should not be used to treat fungal nail infections if you have a certain heart disease (ventricular dysfunction such as current or history of congestive heart failure-CHF).

Side Effects

Notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly if any of these effects persist or worsen:

Nausea/vomiting
Diarrhea
Gas
Headache
Dizziness
stomach upset

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:

signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat)
trouble breathing
unusual tiredness
swelling ankles/feet
burning/painful/frequent urination
decreased sexual interest/ability
hair loss
muscle cramps/pain
weakness
fast/irregular heartbeat
mental/mood changes (e.g., depression)
enlarged breasts in men
ringing in the ears
temporary or permanent hearing loss

Tell your doctor immediately if numbness/tingling of the hands/feet occur.

Itraconazole has rarely caused very serious (possibly fatal) liver disease.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions

Precautions

Allergic reaction to this medication
Patients with medical history of:
- liver disease (or history of liver disease with other drugs)
- kidney disease
- heart disease (e.g., coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, congestive heart failure)
- severe lung disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD)
- high blood pressure
- decreased or no stomach acid (e.g., achlorhydria)
- cystic fibrosis
This drug may make you dizzy
Older adults may be at greater risk for hearing loss
This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding

Consult your doctor regarding the precautions mentioned above.

Interactions

Some products that may interact with this drug include:

Alfuzosin
certain benzodiazepines (such as alprazolam, estazolam)
conivaptan
eletriptan
ivabradine
vardenafil
amiodarone
calcium channel blockers (such as verapamil)

This drug can slow down the removal of other drugs from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of affected drugs include:

certain antiarrhythmic medications (such as digoxin)
certain chemotherapy drugs (such as busulfan, docetaxel, vinblastine, sunitinib, lapatinib, dasatinib
certain benzodiazepines (such as diazepam, injectable midazolam)
certain immunosuppressants (such as tacrolimus, cyclosporine, sirolimus)
certain “statin” drugs (such as atorvastatin)
alfentanil
aripiprazole
buspirone
cilostazol
fentanyl
repaglinide
certain drugs to treat erectile dysfunction-ED or pulmonary hypertension (such as sildenafil, tadalafil)
trimetrexate
trazodone
tolterodine
“blood thinners” (such as warfarin)

Other medications can affect how itraconazole works. Examples include:

Cimetidine
Isoniazid
macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin)
rifamycins (such as rifabutin)
nevirapine
certain drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin)

Overdose & Brands

Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Notes

Do not share this medication with others.

This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only. Do not use it later for another infection unless told to do so by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in that case.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., liver function tests) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store at room temperature between 59-77 degrees F (15-25 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.

Brands

Available Brands:

Canditral [ Glenmark ]	Inox [ Hovid ]
Sporanox [ Johnson & Johnson ]