KETOCONAZOLE

Minor side effects (if these symptoms persist or worsen, inform your doctor)

• Nausea and vomiting may occur.

Serious side effects (inform your doctor immediately)

• Headache, vision changes, mental/mood changes (such as depression, thoughts of suicide), fast/irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting.
• May cause an adrenal gland problem (adrenal insufficiency), a decrease in testosterone levels, and a decrease in sperm production, worsen existing adrenal gland function problems.

Severe allergic reactions are rare. Get immediate medical help if you notice the following:

• Rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

Precautions

• Inform your doctor.
  • Allergy to the medication or to other azole antifungal drugs (such as fluconazole, itraconazole)or any allergies.
  • Medical History of a current pregnancy or planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding, liver problems, alcohol use, low testosterone levels, decreased adrenal gland function problems (such as low cortisol levels, Addison’s disease, adrenal insufficiency), little or no stomach acid production (achlorhydria).

• May cause QT prolongation, a condition that affects the heart rhythm.
  • Risk increases if you have the following conditions.
    • Heart problems, family history of certain heart problems.
    • Low levels of potassium or magnesium.
      • Usage of such as diuretics/”water pills” or presence of conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting.

• Abstain from alcoholic beverages while taking this medication as alcohol increases the risk of serious liver problems.

• Should only be used when there is a clear need during pregnancy as it may harm an unborn baby. If you are planning to be pregnant or think you may be pregnant, discuss the risks and benefits of use with your doctor.

• Consult your doctor before breast-feeding as this medication passes into breast milk and may cause unwanted effects on your baby.

Interactions

Taking multiple drugs may affect how medications work and/or cause unwanted side effects. List down all the medications you are taking and inform your physician and pharmacist. Do not take, discontinue, or alter any dose of medications without prior approval of your physician.

• Products that may interact with this medication include:
  • other drugs that can cause liver problems (such as acetaminophen), isoniazid, nevirapine, rifamycins (such as rifabutin, rifampin), St. John’s wort, some benzodiazepines (such as alprazolam, midazolam, triazolam), domperidone, eletriptan, eplerenone, ergot drugs (such as ergotamine), nisoldipine, drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction-ED or pulmonary hypertension (such as sildenafil, tadalafil), some drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin), some statin drugs (such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin), among others.

• If you are taking drugs that decrease the amount of stomach acid including antacids, heartburn/ulcer drugs (H2 blockers such as cimetidine, famotidine, ranitidine), sucralfate, or if you are taking drugs that slow down gut movement (anticholinergics such as dicyclomine, propantheline), take ketoconazole at least 2 hours before any of these drugs since ketoconazole requires acid in the stomach to be well absorbed.

Overdose

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

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 as soon as you remember, take a regular dose or if the time of the next dose is near, wait for it before taking another dose and resume your usual schedule. Do not increase the dose to compensate for the missed dose.

Storage:

• Room temperature
• Do not expose to light and moisture
• Do not store in the bathroom
• Keep all medications away from pets and children

Brands

Available Brands

• Dermazole [ Kusum Healthcare ]
• Ketozol [ Bal Pharma ]
• Nizoral Cream [ Johnson & Johnson ]

Also marketed as

• Conatab [ Brown & Burk Phils ]
• Dezor [ Hoe ]
• Donaxene [ P T Interbat ]
• Fungizol [ Euro Generics ]
• Ketovid [ Hovid ]
• Ketovid Cream [ Hovid ]
• Konazole [ Daewon ]
• Kozec [ Han Seo Pharm ]
• Nizoral [ Johnson & Johnson ]
• Nizoral Shampoo [ Johnson & Johnson ]
• Reduff [ Hoe ]
• United Home Ketoconazole [ United Lab ]