Itraconazole

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

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to itraconazole or similar medications such as fluconazole (Diflucan) or ketoconazole (Nizoral), if you have ever had congestive heart failure, or if you are pregnant or may become pregnant during treatment.

You should not take itraconazole together with cisapride (Propulsid), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), dofetilide (Tikosyn), ergonovine (Ergotrate), ergotamine (Ergomar), lovastatin (Altocor, Altoprev, Mevacor), methylergonovine (Methergine), midazolam (Versed), nisoldipine (Sular), pimozide (Orap), quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quin-Release), simvastatin (Zocor), or triazolam (Halcion).

Other drugs that should not be taken together with itraconazole include astemizole (Hismanal), or levomethadyl Orlaam) (these drugs are no longer available in the U.S.).

There are many other medicines that can interact with itraconazole. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

Before taking itraconazole, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, a history of stroke, a heart rhythm disorder, kidney or liver disease, a breathing disorder, cystic fibrosis, or a history of "Long QT syndrome.”

Itraconazole capsules should not be used in place of itraconazole oral solution (liquid) if that is what your doctor has prescribed. Make sure you have received the correct type of this medication at the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist if you have any questions.

Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Warning

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.

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What is itraconazole?

Itraconazole is an antifungal medication.

Itraconazole is used to treat infections caused by fungus, which can invade any part of the body including the lungs, mouth or throat, toenails, or fingernails.

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

Precautions

The following drugs should not be taken together with itraconazole:

cisapride (Propulsid);
dofetilide (Tikosyn);
nisoldipine (Sular);
pimozide (Orap);
quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quin-Release);
lovastatin (Altocor, Altoprev, Mevacor) or simvastatin (Zocor);
midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion);
ergot medicines such as dihydroedrgotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergonovine (Ergotrate), ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Ercaf, Migergot), or methylergonovine (Methergine); or
(these drugs are no longer available in the U.S.) astemizole (Hismanal), or levomethadyl Orlaam).

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take itraconazole:

heart disease, a heart rhythm disorder, circulation problems, or a history of stroke;
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other breathing disorder;
kidney disease;
liver disease;
cystic fibrosis; or
a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome."

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether itraconazole is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Itraconazole passes into breast milk and can harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Avoid taking antacids or stomach acid reducers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Axid, Zantac, and others) within 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take itraconazole. These medications can make it harder for your body to absorb itraconazole.

Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of an itraconazole overdose are not known.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

fever;
feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
swelling, rapid weight gain;
problems with hearing;
numbness or tingly feeling;
pain or burning when you urinate; or
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, weakness, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

diarrhea, constipation, mild stomach pain;
mild itching or skin rash;
headache, dizziness; or
runny nose or other cold symptoms.

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.

Interactions

Many drugs can interact with itraconazole. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
cancer medications;
cholesterol medications such as atorvastatin (Lipitor);
cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral);
diabetes medication you take by mouth;
digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
disopyramide (Norpace);
fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic);
isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);
rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater, Rifamate), or rifapentine (Priftin);
sirolimus (Rapamune) or tacrolimus (Prograf);
an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), telithromycin (Ketek), or troleandomycin (Tao).
an antifungal medication such as clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or voriconazole (Vfend);
an antidepressant such as nefazodone, paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft);
a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Solfoton);
heart or blood pressure medications such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others;
HIV/AIDS medicine such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase), or ritonavir (Norvir);
a sedative such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium); or
seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), or phenytoin (Dilantin), or primidone (Mysoline).

This list is not complete and there are many other medicines that can interact with itraconazole. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

Disclaimer

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.