Ketoconazole - Benefits, dosage and side effects

Ketoconazole is a drug to treat fungal infections. This drug works to treat various types of fungal infections on the skin, such as tinea versicolor, ringworm, water fleas, and fungal infections in other parts of the body, such as vaginal candidiasis.

Ketoconazole is available as a 2% cream, 200 mg tablet, and shampoo. This drug works by stopping and preventing the growth of fungus.

Trademark: Formyco, Ketomed, Mycoral, Nizoral, Solinfec and Zoralin.

What is Ketoconazole?

 Warnings Before Taking Ketoconazole

• Do not take or use ketoconazole if you are allergic to ketoconazole or to other azole antifungal drugs, such as fluconazole and itraconazole.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking or using ketoconazole because it can increase the risk of liver disorders.
• Tell your doctor if you are taking any medications, supplements, and herbal remedies before taking or using ketoconazole.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver, heart, and kidney problems, and have certain medical conditions, such as arrhythmias, low testosterone levels, and decreased function of the adrenal glands.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy, before using ketoconazole.
• If you have an allergic drug reaction or overdose after taking or using ketoconazole, see a doctor immediately.

Dosage and Rules for Use of Ketoconazole

The dose of ketoconazole depends on the type of yeast infection and its severity. Here is the explanation:

Systemic fungal infection (systemic fungal infection)

To treat fungal infections that affect multiple organs (systemic), such as histoplasmosis, your doctor will give you ketoconazole tablets in the following doses:

• Mature

  1 tablet 200 mg, once daily. If needed, the dose may be increased to 400 mg, once daily.

• Child age over 2 years old

  3.3-6.6 mg/kg, once daily.

Fungal infection of the skin

• Fungal infections Candida on the skin (cutaneous candidiasis)
• Ringworm (tinea corporis)
• Fungal infection in the groin (tinea cruris)
• Hand fungal infection (tinea manum)
• Water fleas (tinea pedis)

For these conditions, apply ketoconazole cream 2% on the infected area, 1-2 times a day, for 2-4 weeks.

Panu (pityriasis versicolor)

To treat tinea versicolor in adults, the required dose is:

• 2% cream

  Apply to the infected area 1-2 times a day, for 2-3 weeks. Use the cream for up to a few days after symptoms disappear or as directed by your doctor.

• 2% shampoo

  Use the shampoo once a day, for a maximum of 5 days. For the prevention of tinea versicolor, use shampoo once a day.

Seborrheic dermatitis

To treat seborrheic dermatitis in adults, the following dosages of ketoconazole:

• 2% cream

  Apply ketoconazole cream to problem areas 1-2 times, for 2-4 weeks.

• 2% shampoo

  Apply shampoo on wet scalp 2 times a week, for 2-4 weeks.

Cushing's syndrome

To treat Cushing's syndrome, the doctor will give ketoconazole tablets 200 mg. Here are the dosages for adults and children over 12 years of age:

• Initial dose

  400-600 mg per day. The dose can be reduced to 200 mg after use for 7-28 days.

• Advanced dose

  600-800 mg per day, maximum dose 1,200 mg per day. The use of this drug can be discontinued according to the condition of the patient's liver and adrenal glands.

How to Use Ketoconazole Correctly

Use ketoconazole as directed by your doctor or the directions on the medicine package. Do not stop using this medicine before the time prescribed by your doctor. Even if the infection appears to have healed, the fungus has the potential to grow back if treatment is stopped too soon.

If you forget to take ketoconazole tablets, take them immediately if the break with the next consumption schedule is not too close. If it is close, ignore it and do not double the dose.

Make sure there is enough time between one dose and the next while taking ketoconazole tablets. Try to take the medicine at the same time every day, in order to maximize the effect of the medicine.

Before using ketoconazole cream, first clean the infected skin area and want to apply the cream, then dry it. Next, apply an appropriate amount of cream on the area. Don't forget to wash your hands before and after applying the medicine.

Ketoconazole topical should only be used as an external medicine, do not apply to the nose, eyes, mouth, or on skin that is cut, scratched, or burned.

If you need to use a ketoconazole shampoo, spread the shampoo foam so that it covers the entire hair and scalp. After that, let stand for 5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with water.

Keep ketoconazole out of the sun and store at room temperature. Keep out of reach of children.

Ketoconazole Interactions with Other Drugs

If taken with other drugs, ketoconazole can cause a number of drug interaction effects, namely:

• Lowering blood levels of ketoconazole, when used with rifampicin, isoniazid, efavirenz, nevirapine, and phenytoin.
• Increases the effects of midazolam and alprazolam to the point where it can make it difficult for a person to breathe.
• Increases levels of digoxin, fentanyl, oxycodone, warfarin, and sildenafil in the body.
• Increases risk of hyperkalemia and hypotension when used with eplerenone.
• Increased risk of QT prolongation when used with cisapride, quinidine, ranolazine, and terfenadine
• Increases risk of muscle disorders, when used with lovastatin and simvastatin.
• Increases risk of bleeding, when used with dabigatran.

Side Effects and Dangers of Ketoconazole

Ketoconazole can cause side effects such as:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Eyes sensitive to light
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Menstrual cycle changes
• Decreased libido
• Breast enlargement in men
• Bruises and nosebleeds

Check with your doctor if you experience the above symptoms. Go to the emergency room immediately if you have a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the lips and face or difficulty breathing, after taking or taking ketoconazole.