Itraconazole is an antifungal drug that slows down the process of growth of the fungus causing infection. It can be used against several fungal and yeast infections including tinea, candida, malassezia, chromoblastomycosis, coccidiodomycosis, aspergillus and histoplasma.
The dosage for an adult patient is usually 100mg or 200mg. For children it is 5mg per kg of their body weight per day. Only a doctor can suggest the correct dose and duration of treatment with the drug.
Itraconazole capsules are taken orally with a full meal for three months, once or thrice a day. Itraconazole solution is taken on an empty stomach once or twice a day for a month. It is necessary to follow the exact prescription and the schedule of dose advised by the doctor.
Although Itraconazole is a very safe drug, certain side effects can be observed if the treatment continues for a considerably longer duration. These side effects have the symptoms like nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, skin rash, endocrine effects such as enlargement of breasts in male and adrenal suppression.
In very rare cases it can lead to congestive heart failure and the patients with symptoms of heart diseases should use it only after consulting the doctor. It might be dangerous for the patients to take overdose of the drug. Adults as well as the children should strictly take the dose as suggested by the doctor
Small amount of Itraconazole is excreted in the breast milk, so the breast-feeding mother should take the medication only if the doctor finds the use of drug essential. It is not advised to the pegnent women to use the drug during pregnancy.
Itraconazole interact with some drugs like Cisapride, atovadtatin, lovastatin, simvastatin, midazolam, triazolam, antihistamines, and astemizole. These drugs should not be used with Itraconazole.
The dosage of some other drugs need to be adjusted if they are to be used along with Itraconazole so it is necessary to tell the doctor about all the medications that you are having. If needed the doctor might suggest some safe alternatives.
