Itraconazole brands and prices in Pakistan

About Itraconazole

Itraconazole is an antifungal medicine from the triazole group. It stops the growth of the fungi (including yeasts) that cause an infection. It comes as capsules and as a liquid (oral solution), both taken by mouth. The capsules and the liquid are absorbed differently, so one cannot simply be swapped for the other. It is a prescription medicine, and it interacts with a very large number of other medicines.

Who should not take it, or should take care

• Do not take it if you are allergic to itraconazole.
• Do not take it with any of the many medicines that must never be combined with it (see Interactions). Always check with a pharmacist before starting.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have had heart failure or other heart problems, such as a heart attack or an irregular heartbeat. People with heart failure may be told not to take it.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver problems (including past jaundice) or kidney problems. Your doctor may check your liver with blood tests during treatment.
• Tell your doctor if you have low stomach acid, cystic fibrosis, HIV or another condition that weakens the immune system, or have had an organ transplant.
• Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergy to another antifungal medicine.
• Pregnancy: it should not be used in pregnancy unless a doctor says it is needed. The UK leaflet for the liquid says not to take it if you are or could become pregnant. If you could become pregnant, use effective contraception while taking it and until your next period after stopping. Tell your doctor at once if you become pregnant.
• Breastfeeding: small amounts pass into breast milk. The UK leaflet for the liquid advises not breastfeeding while taking it. Ask your doctor.
• Children and older people are not normally given it, but a doctor may prescribe it in special cases.
• The liquid contains sorbitol, so tell your doctor if you have hereditary fructose intolerance.

Medicines and drinks that can interact

• Itraconazole interacts with a very long list of medicines. Some must never be taken with it, and this also applies for some time after you stop. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine you take, including ones you buy and herbal products such as St John's wort.
• Must not be taken with some cholesterol medicines (simvastatin, lovastatin), some sleeping or calming medicines (triazolam, midazolam by mouth), some heart rhythm medicines (quinidine, dofetilide, dronedarone, disopyramide), ticagrelor, dabigatran, domperidone, cisapride, ergot migraine medicines, pimozide and some other mental health medicines
• Blood thinners such as warfarin, apixaban and rivaroxaban
• Tuberculosis medicines (rifampicin, rifabutin, isoniazid) and epilepsy medicines (phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital), which can stop itraconazole working
• Some HIV and hepatitis medicines, some cancer medicines, and transplant medicines such as ciclosporin and tacrolimus
• Steroids, including inhaled and nasal steroids such as budesonide and fluticasone, as itraconazole can raise their effect
• Some antibiotics, such as clarithromycin and erythromycin
• Antacids and medicines that lower stomach acid (such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, famotidine and cimetidine), which can stop the capsules being absorbed. Keep antacids apart from the capsules; your pharmacist will tell you how long a gap to leave.
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice: ask your doctor first

Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, supplement and herbal product you take.

Using it safely

• Take it only when a doctor prescribes it for you, and keep taking it for as long as your doctor tells you, even if you feel better, so the infection does not come back.
• Capsules: take them with a full meal or straight after eating. Swallow them whole with water; do not open, chew or crush them.
• If you also take a medicine that lowers stomach acid, the capsule leaflets advise taking the capsules with a non-diet cola or fizzy drink to help absorption.
• Liquid: take it on an empty stomach. For mouth or throat infections, swish it around the mouth before swallowing, and do not rinse your mouth afterwards.
• Do not swap between the capsules and the liquid unless your doctor tells you to.
• The capsule leaflet advises not drinking alcohol while taking it.
• If you forget a dose, take it when you remember unless the next one is nearly due. Never take two doses together.
• Do not drive or use machines if you feel dizzy or have blurred or double vision or hearing changes.
• Store it at room temperature, away from heat and moisture, and out of the reach of children. Return unused medicine to a pharmacy.

Common questions

Why does it matter whether I take itraconazole with food?
The capsules are absorbed best with a meal, while the liquid works best on an empty stomach. Taking them the wrong way can mean less medicine gets into your body. Follow the label on your pack, and do not swap forms without asking your doctor.

Why does my pharmacist ask about all my other medicines?
Itraconazole changes how the body handles many other medicines. Some combinations can be dangerous, for example with certain heart, cholesterol or sleeping medicines, so they must not be taken together. Check before starting anything new, including for some time after you finish the course.

Will I need any tests while taking itraconazole?
Sometimes. Doctors may check your liver and kidneys with blood tests, and for some lung infections they also measure the level of the medicine in your blood and may check your heart with an ECG.

Can I take itraconazole if I might get pregnant?
It is not normally used in pregnancy. If you could become pregnant, use effective contraception during treatment and until your next period after stopping, and tell your doctor straight away if you become pregnant.

Prepared from the sources listed by the MedInfoBase team. General information, not medical advice: it gives no doses. Your doctor or pharmacist decides the medicine and dose for you.