Itraconazole, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antifungal; anti-infective

Generic and brand names: itraconazole, oral; Sporanox

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat fungal infections in various parts of the body.

It may also be used to prevent fungus infections following bone marrow transplants.

It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• achlorhydria (lack of stomach acid) or hypochlorhydria (decreased amount of stomach acid)
• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• liver or kidney disease
• breathing problems or a lung disease such as COPD
• heart failure, irregular heartbeat, or other heart disease

Some drugs may cause serious, even fatal, problems if taken with this medicine. Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval, even if you feel better.

Take the capsule form of this medicine with food. Take the liquid solution on an empty stomach. For infections of the mouth, throat, or esophagus, swish the medicine around in your mouth for several seconds before swallowing.

If you have achlorhydria (your stomach does not produce acid), take this medicine with a cola drink.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

An acute overdose of this medicine is not likely to cause life-threatening symptoms. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I watch out for?

You need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

Contact your healthcare provider right away if you develop severe tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, yellowish skin or eyes, dark urine, or light-colored bowel movements. These may be symptoms of liver problems.

Alcohol may increase the risk of liver problems. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical treatment or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, yellowish skin or eyes, dark urine, light-colored bowel movements, blistered peeling or red skin, severe stomach pain, unexplained swelling, shortness of breath, chest pain, numbness or tingling in legs or arms, unexplained fever.

Other: Headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, tiredness, itching.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• alfentanil (Alfenta)
• antacids (take antacids 2 hours apart from doses of this medicine)
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin XL) and erythromycin (Erythrocin, EES, E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, EryPed)
• anticancer medicines such as vinblastine (Velban), vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar PFS), busulfan (Myleran), docetaxel (Taxotere), trimetrexate (Neutrexin), and vinorelbine (Navelbine)
• anti-HIV medicines such as indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), delavirdine (Rescriptor), zidovudine (Retrovir), efavirenz (Sustiva), amprenavir (Agenerase), and ritonavir (Norvir)
• antiarrhythmics (medicines to treat irregular heartbeat) such as quinidine, amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), disopyramide (Norpace), and dofetilide (Tikosyn)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), triazolam (Halcion), and midazolam (Versed)
• calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), nimodipine (Nimotop), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), and nisoldipine (Sular)
• cisapride (Propulsid)
• buspirone (BuSpar)
• cilostazol (Pletal)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• ergot medicines such as ergotamine (Ergomar), methylergonovine (Methergine), and dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45)
• H2 antagonists such as cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), and nizatidine (Axid)
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Gengraf, Neoral), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic)
• isoniazid
• medicines to lower cholesterol (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), and pravastatin (Pravachol)
• medicines to treat erectile dysfunction such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra)
• methylprednisolone (Medrol, A-Methapred, Adlone, Depo-Medrol)
• oral diabetes medicines such as chlorpropamide, glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase, Glynase), and tolbutamide
• pimozide (Orap)
• proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), pantoprazole (Protonix), and lansoprazole (Prevacid)
• rifabutin (Mycobutin)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• herbal products such as kava, St. John's wort, and valerian
• sucralfate (Carafate)
• warfarin (Coumadin)

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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