Ketoconazole is used to treat serious fungal infections of the body in individuals who have failed or are intolerant to other available therapies.
This medicine is also used to treat Cushing's syndrome (a disorder that causes the body to produce an excessive amount of hormone known as cortisol over a long period).
Ketoconazole may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Take Ketoconazole exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Take it together with food or immediately after a meal. Try to take it at the same time each day.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the treatment timeframe depending on the type and severity of your infection and your response to the medication.
Ketoconazole must be taken regularly for it to be effective. Continue taking this medicine even when you feel better. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by the doctor.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Do not take Ketoconazole if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to this medicine or similar medicines such as miconazole or clotrimazole.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- liver disease
- heart rhythm disorder
as Ketoconazole may not be suitable for you.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby soon. If you become pregnant while being treated with Ketoconazole, alert your doctor immediately. This medicine may cause harm to your unborn child. You must use proven birth control methods while taking Ketoconazole.
Do not breastfeed while you are being treated with this medicine.
Do not take Ketoconazole with certain medicines for irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, allergy, migraine, sleep disorder, mood disorders, anxiety, stomach problems, cancer, malaria, HIV infection, organ transplants or certain immune disorders, and cholesterol-lowering or blood-thinning medicines. Please see the section "Can I take this with other medicines?" below for more information.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- achlorhydria (absence of acid in the stomach)
- adrenal gland problems
- porphyria (an inherited disorder that causes skin or nervous system abnormalities)
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Ketoconazole to a child. Children may be more sensitive to the side effects.
If you are going to have an operation, including minor surgery and dental work, inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medicine.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Routine tests (e.g. liver and adrenal gland function, ECG [test used to record the electrical activity of the heart]) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
- Regular monitoring for signs of liver problems or adrenal gland function changes may also be needed.
Ketoconazole may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.
Other side effects include any of the following: headache, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, stomach wind, diarrhoea, muscle or joint pain, numbness or tingling sensation in the hands and feet, difficulty sleeping, sensitivity to sunlight, hair loss, and skin itching.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes or mouth
- yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark coloured urine, tiredness, swelling in the legs and ankles
- irregular or abnormal heartbeat
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not take Ketoconazole with the following medicines:
- medicines for irregular heartbeat e.g. quinidine, dofetilide, disopyramide, dronedarone
- medicines for high blood pressure e.g. nisoldipine, felodipine, eplerenone
- medicines for sleep disorder e.g. oral midazolam, triazolam
- medicines for mood disorders e.g. pimozide, sertindole, lurasidone, quetiapine
- medicines for migraine (severe throbbing pain or pulsating sensation usually affecting one side of the head that is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound) e.g. ergotamine
- medicines used in organ transplants or certain immune disorders e.g. sirolimus, everolimus
- cholesterol-lowering medicines e.g. simvastatin, lovastatin
- methadone (strong painkillers)
- mizolastine (medicine for allergy)
- irinotecan (medicine for cancer)
- saquinavir and ritonavir combination (medicine for HIV infection)
- halofantrine (medicine used to treat malaria [a disease characterised by chills, fever and sweating that is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito])
- dabigatran (blood-thinning medicine)
- cisapride (medicine for stomach problems)
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- other medicines for HIV infection e.g. nevirapine, indinavir, maraviroc
- other medicines for cancer e.g. vincristine, docetaxel, lapatinib, dasatinib
- other medicines for mood disorders e.g. aripiprazole, haloperidol
- other blood-thinning medicines e.g. warfarin, apixaban, cilostazol
- other medicines for irregular heartbeat e.g. verapamil, digoxin, nadolol
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin
- medicines to treat TB (lung infection known as tuberculosis) e.g. rifampicin, rifabutin, isoniazid
- medicines for diabetes e.g. repaglinide, saxagliptin
- medicines used to treat impotence e.g. sildenafil, vardenafil
- asthma medicines e.g. fluticasone, salmeterol
- anti-inflammatory medicines e.g. dexamethasone, methylprednisolone
- other strong painkillers e.g. fentanyl, buprenorphine, oxycodone
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Ketoconazole.
This medicine should not be taken with antacids (medicines that neutralise stomach acids) and medicines that reduce stomach acid production as they could reduce the effectiveness of Ketoconazole. If you must take these medicines, take them at least 2 hours after you have taken Ketoconazole and preferably with an acidic beverage (e.g. cola).
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Protect from moisture.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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