Itraconazole is used to treat fungal infections of the skin, nails, hands, feet, mouth, throat, vagina, and other parts of the body.
This medicine may also be used to prevent fungal infections if you have a weakened immune system due to viral or blood diseases.
Itraconazole may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Take Itraconazole 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.
This medicine is available as a capsule (conventional or pulse-release form) or as an oral solution.
If you have been given the conventional capsule or pulse-release capsule, take it immediately after a full meal. Swallow it whole. Do not divide, chew, or open the capsule.
If you have been given the oral solution, take it on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before meals. Use the measuring cup supplied with each bottle to measure out your dose. If you are taking this medicine due to mouth or throat infections, the oral solution should be swished vigorously in your mouth for about 20 seconds before swallowing. Do not rinse your mouth after swallowing.
Try to take Itraconazole 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.
Take Itraconazole at regular intervals. Do not skip any doses. You must complete the entire course of this medicine. If you don't, the infection will not be properly controlled.
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 this medicine if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to Itraconazole.
Alert your doctor if you have or had a history of heart disease (e.g. heart failure) as this medicine may not be suitable for you.
Do not take Itraconazole if you are pregnant unless instructed to do so by the doctor. If you become pregnant while being treated with this medicine, alert your doctor immediately. Itraconazole may cause harm to your unborn child. You must use proven birth control methods while taking this medicine and continue until your next menstrual period following the end of treatment.
Do not take Itraconazole with medicines for irregular heartbeat, chest pain, high blood pressure, allergies, migraine, mood disorder, anxiety, digestive problems, lowering high cholesterol levels, cancer, malaria, and gout. Please see the section "Can I take this with other medicines?" below for more information.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- diseases that may increase the risk of heart failure e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (long-term lung disease that causes airflow obstruction making it hard to breathe), heart problems caused by narrowed heart arteries
- impaired gastrointestinal motility
- achlorhydria (absence or low production of acid in the stomach)
- weakened immune system due to certain conditions e.g. blood disorder, AIDS, organ transplantation
- allergic reaction to similar medicines for fungal infection such as fluconazole
- cystic fibrosis (inherited disease that causes excessively thick and sticky mucus build up in the lungs or intestines)
Let your doctor know if you are breastfeeding.
Do not switch between different preparations (e.g. oral solution to capsule and vice versa) unless instructed by your doctor.
Maintain good hygiene as this is important in managing fungal infections.
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 kidney functions) 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 heart failure and liver impairment may also be needed.
Itraconazole may cause dizziness or some problems with your eyesight or sense of hearing. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert or need to see clearly.
Other side effects include any of the following: headache, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach wind, indigestion, chest pain, chills, fever, tiredness, confusion, joint or muscle pain, abnormal voice, cough, inflammation of the nose or sinuses, itching, excessive sweating, and menstrual problems.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- signs and symptoms of severe allergic reactions e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes or mouth
- signs and symptoms of heart failure e.g. shortness of breath, swelling of your feet, ankles or legs, sudden weight gain, unusual tiredness, fast heartbeat, waking up with shortness of breath at night
- signs and symptoms of liver impairment e.g. yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark coloured urine, tiredness, swelling in the legs and ankles
- tingling sensation, weakness or numbness in the hands or feet
- sudden temporary or permanent hearing loss
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 Itraconazole with the following medicines:
- medicines for irregular heartbeat e.g. quinidine, dronedarone, dofetilide, disopyramide
- medicines for chest pain e.g. bepridil, ranolazine, ivabradine
- medicines for high blood pressure e.g. felodipine, nisoldipine, lercanidipine, eplerenone
- medicines for allergies e.g. terfenadine, astemizole, mizolastine
- medicines for migraine e.g. dihydroergotamine, ergotamine
- medicines to treat heavy vaginal bleeding after childbirth e.g. ergometrine, methylergometrine
- medicines for mood disorders e.g. pimozide, lurasidone, sertindole
- cholesterol-lowering medicines e.g. simvastatin, lovastatin, lomitapide
- isavuconazole (another medicine to treat fungal infection)
- oral midazolam (medicine for anxiety)
- triazolam (medicine for sleeping difficulties)
- methadone (strong painkiller)
- cisapride (medicine for digestive problems)
- domperidone (medicine for nausea and vomiting)
- irinotecan (medicine for cancer)
- halofantrine (medicine for malaria)
- naloxegol (medicine to treat constipation caused by strong painkillers)
- avanafil (medicine for erectile dysfunction)
- ticagrelor (medicine used to prevent and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke)
- colchicine (medicine for gout or high uric acid level in the blood), particularly when used in individuals with kidney or liver problems
- certain medicines to treat overactive bladder e.g. fesoterodine, solifenacin, particularly when used in individuals with kidney or liver problems
- telithromycin (certain antibiotic), particularly when used in individuals with kidney or liver problems
- eliglustat (medicine for Gaucher disease type 1 [an inherited disorder where the body has insufficient enzyme necessary to break down fatty substances causing liver and spleen enlargement]), particularly when used in individuals that cannot break down certain medicines in the body
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking or using any of these medicines:
- medicines used in organ transplant or certain immune disorders e.g. ciclosporin, tacrolimus, everolimus, sirolimus
- medicines used to treat TB (infection known as tuberculosis) e.g. rifabutin, isoniazid, rifampicin, bedaquiline
- medicines that neutralise stomach acids e.g. ranitidine, omeprazole, aluminium hydroxide
- medicines to treat fits or seizures e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital
- medicines for HIV infection e.g. indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, nevirapine, efavirenz
- other strong painkillers e.g. fentanyl, oxycodone, sufentanil, buprenorphine
- medicines for heart disease e.g. verapamil, digoxin
- blood-thinning medicines e.g. warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran
- medicines for diabetes e.g. repaglinide, saxagliptin
- other medicines for anxiety e.g. alprazolam, buspirone
- certain antibiotics e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin
- medicines for cancer e.g. axitinib, docetaxel, trastuzumab emtansine, busulfan
- other medicines used for erectile dysfunction e.g. tadalafil, sildenafil
- medicines to treat overactive bladder e.g. darifenacin, tolterodine
- medicines for high blood pressure in the blood vessels leading to your lungs e.g. bosentan, riociguat
- medicines for cold or allergy e.g. bilastine, ebastine
- medicines for mood disorders e.g. risperidone, quetiapine, aripiprazole, haloperidol
- anti-inflammatory medicines e.g dexamethasone, methylprednisolone
- asthma medicines e.g. salmeterol, budesonide, fluticasone, ciclesonide
- medicines to treat malaria e.g. artemether and lumefantrine, quinine
- medicines for hepatitis C infection e.g. simeprevir, telaprevir
- atorvastatin (cholesterol-lowering medicine)
- meloxicam (NSAID or medicine for pain and inflammation)
- St. John's wort (herbal medicine)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Itraconazole.
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.
Avoid excessive consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice (more than 1 litre a day).
Store the capsules in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children. Protect from light and moisture.
The oral solution can be stored at room temperature, not more than 25°C. Do not freeze.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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