Health Library

Itraconazole (By mouth)

Itraconazole (it-ra-KON-a-zole)

Treats fungal infections.

Brand Name(s):

Sporanox, Tolsura

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Capsule, Liquid, Tablet

• Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
• Capsule or tablet: Take it with a full meal. Swallow the capsule or tablet whole. Take the tablets at the same time each day.
• Oral liquid: Take it without food. Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. Swish the oral liquid in your mouth for several seconds and then swallow it.
• Use only the brand of medicine your doctor prescribed. Other brands may not work the same way.
• Take all of the medicine in your prescription to clear up your infection, even if you feel better after the first few doses. It may take several weeks or months for your infection to clear up completely.
• Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
• Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Do not use avanafil, cisapride, disopyramide, dofetilide, dronedarone, eliglustat, eplerenone, felodipine, finerenone, irinotecan, isavuconazole, ivabradine, lomitapide, lurasidone, methadone, naloxegol, nisoldipine, oral midazolam, pimozide, quinidine, ranolazine, ticagrelor, triazolam, venetoclax, voclosporin, an ergot medicine (including dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, methylergonovine) or medicines to lower cholesterol (including lovastatin, simvastatin) during and 2 weeks after treatment with itraconazole. Do not take colchicine, fesoterodine, solifenacin, or telithromycin during and 2 weeks after treatment with itraconazole, if you have kidney or liver disease.
• Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Alfentanil, alfuzosin, aliskiren, alprazolam, apixaban, aripiprazole, artemether-lumefantrine, bedaquiline, buprenorphine, buspirone, cariprazine, clarithromycin, conivaptan, darifenacin, diazepam, digoxin, eletriptan, everolimus, fentanyl, haloperidol, isoniazid, lumacaftor/ivacaftor, meloxicam, midazolam, oxycodone, praziquantel, quetiapine, quinine, ramelteon, rifabutin, rifampin, riociguat, risperidone, rivaroxaban, Saccharomyces boulardii, salmeterol, sildenafil, silodosin, sirolimus, sufentanil, suvorexant, tadalafil, tamsulosin, temsirolimus, tolvaptan, trimetrexate, valbenazine, vardenafil, venlafaxine, vorapaxar, zopiclone
  • Birth control pills (including dienogest, ulipristal)
  • Blood thinners (including cilostazol, dabigatran, warfarin)
  • Diuretics (water pill)
  • Medicine to treat cancer (including axitinib, bortezomib, bosutinib, brentuximab-vedotin, busulfan cabazitaxel, cabozantinib, ceritinib, cobimetinib, crizotinib, dabrafenib, dasatinib, docetaxel, entrectinib, erlotinib, gefitinib, glasdegib, ibrutinib, idealisib, imatinib, ixabepilone, lapatinib, mobocertinib, nilotinib, nintedanib, olaparib, panobinostat, pazopanib, pemigatinib, ponatinib, regorafenib, ruxolitinib, sonidegib, sunitinib, talazoparib, trabectedin, trastuzumab-emtansine, tretinoin, vandatenib)
  • Medicine to treat HIV infection (including cobicistat, darunavir, efavirenz, elbasvir/grazoprevir, elvitegravir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nevirapine, ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, saquinavir, simeprevir)
  • Medicine to treat seizures (including carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin)
  • Oral diabetes medicine (including repaglinide, saxagliptin)
  It is best to avoid these drugs for 2 weeks before, during, and after treatment with itraconazole.
• Many other drugs can interact with itraconazole. Make sure your doctor knows about all other medicines you are using.
• If you are taking stomach medicine (including an antacid, H2 blocker, or proton pump inhibitor), take it at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, lung problems (including COPD), edema (body swelling), HIV infection or AIDS, or cystic fibrosis. Tell your doctor if you have had an organ transplant.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • New or worsening heart failure
  • Liver problems
  • Heart rhythm problems, which can be life-threatening (when used with certain medicines)
  • Nerve problems
  • Temporary or permanent hearing loss
• This medicine may make you feel dizzy or have blurred vision. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
• Chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, cold sweat, bluish-colored skin
• Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
• Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• Hearing loss
• Numbness, tingling, or burning pain anywhere in your body
• Rapid weight gain, swelling in your face, hands, ankles, or feet

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Blurred or double vision, dizziness
• Diarrhea
• Headache

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 9/6/2024