Itraconazole capsules

Itraconazole belongs to a group of medicines called antifungals.

Itraconazole is used in cases of:

• Superficial fungal infections if external treatment is not effective or not appropriate. These include fungal infections
• of the skin
• Pityriasis versicolor, a fungal infection of the skin where branny scales develop after scratching. The affected skin parts are paler or darker than normal skin.

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. The recommended dose and duration of treatment are:

Superficial fungal infections

• of the skin: 1 capsule once daily, for 2 weeks.
• of the palms and soles of the feet: 1 capsule once daily, for 4 weeks.
• Pityriasis versicolor: 2 capsules once daily, for 7 days

The doctor can double the dose in case of suppressed defence system, such as in reduced number of white blood cells, AIDS and after organ transplantations. Itraconazole remains in the skin considerably longer than in the blood. Optimal healing is therefore achieved in fungal infections of the skin two to four weeks after the end of therapy.

Fungal infections of mucosa and/or inner organs caused by:

• Aspergillus: 2 capsules once daily, for 2 to 5 months. If the fungi spread into adjacent tissues or the whole body, 2 capsules twice daily.
• Candida: 1-2 capsules once daily, for 3 weeks up to 7 months. If the fungi spread into adjacent tissues or the whole body, 2 capsules twice daily.
• Histoplasma: 2 capsules once to daily, for 8 months.

Method of use

Please take the capsules without chewing with a glass of water directly after a meal, and if possible, always at the same time of the day.

Take the capsules in the morning and in the evening if your intake is twice daily.

If you take medicines that stop the production of stomach acid, you should take Itraconazole with a drink of non-diet cola (see section 'Other medicines and Itraconazole' in the package leaflet).

If you take more Itraconazole than you should

Please immediately consult your doctor in this case.

If you forget to take Itraconazole

Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for the next dose. Do not take a double dose if you have forgotten to take your previous dose.

If you stop taking Itraconazole

Do not take Itraconazole if:

• You are allergic to Itraconazole or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
• You are taking any of the following medicines:
• astemizole, mizolastine, terfenadine (used to treat allergies)
• bepridil, felodipine, lercanidipine, nisoldipine, ivabradine or ranolazine (used to treat high blood pressure and/or angina)
• quinidine, disopyramide, dronedarone or dofetilide (used to treat abnormal heart rhythms)
• cisapride (used to treat stomach and bowel problems)
• levacetylmethadole or levomethadyl and methadone (used to treat opioid dependency)
• pimozide, lurasidone and sertindole (used in schizophrenia)
• certain medicines to lower cholesterol levels, such as lovastatin and simvastatin
• colchicine in patients with kidney or liver problems (used to treat gout)
• eplerenone (a diuretic)
• triazolam (used to treat sleep disturbances)
• midazolam for oral intake (used as sedatives or muscle relaxants before examinations, operations or in intensive care units)
• dihydroergotamine (used to treat low blood pressure and migraine headaches)
• ergometrine or ergonovine, methylergometrine or methylergonovine (used to stop postpartum bleeding)
• ergotamine and eletriptan (used to treat migraine)
• halofantrine (used to treat malaria)
• irinotecan (used to treat cancer)

Do not start taking Itraconazole and tell your doctor if you are taking any of the above. Also, upon completing your course of Itraconazole, do not take any of the medicines listed above for two weeks.

• You have signs of heart dysfunction or previous heart failure, except for the treatment of life-threatening or serious fungal infections.
• You are pregnant or could become pregnant unless your doctor has told you to.

Warnings and precautions

There are some important warnings associated with the use of Itraconazole. These warnings are listed in the package leaflet. Consult a doctor if you are not sure if Itraconazole is suitable for you.

Other medicines and Itraconazole

• Itraconazole must not be used during pregnancy. See the package leaflet for more information.
• If you are breastfeeding ask your doctor before taking Itraconazole, As small amounts of the medicine could be present in your milk. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking/using any medicine.
• Itraconazole may make you feel dizzy and you may experience visual disturbances or hearing loss. Do not drive or operate machinery if affected.

This medicine is not suitable for everyone. For this reason, Itraconazole capsules are only available on prescription. A doctor can write a prescription for Itraconazole after an online consultation. With this prescription you can order the antifungal capsules from the pharmacy.

If you would like to know what Itraconazole capsules cost, please check our order page for the current price. The price listed includes the cost of the online consultation and a service fee.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Some side effects are serious. Get emergency medical help straight away if you notice severe side effects, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, liver problems, pancreatitis or problems with your heart or nerves. Please refer to the package leaflet for more information.

Other side effects can occur with the following frequencies:

Common, affects 1 to 10 per 100 users:

• Abdominal pain.
• Feeling sick (nausea).
• Headache.

Uncommon, affects 1 to 10 per 1,000 users:

• Allergic reactions of different severity.
• Sinusitis, runny nose, coughs and colds.
• Being sick (vomiting).
• Diarrhoea.
• Constipation.
• Indigestion.
• Wind.
• Changes in the liver function (shown by blood tests).
• Nettle rash (urticaria).
• Itching.
• Problems with menstrual periods.

This list is not exhaustive. For a list of all possible side effects, see the package leaflet.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

The active substance is itraconazole. Each hard capsule contains 100 mg itraconazole.

The other ingredients are: gelatin, hypromellose, macrogol, sucrose, maize starch, titanium dioxide (E 171).