Ketoconazole is used to treat skin infections such as athlete’s foot, jock itch, ringworm, and certain kinds of dandruff. Know what ketoconazole is used for Details in a very simple language through this post of ours.
Introduction to What is ketoconazole?
Ketoconazole is a drug used in the management and treatment of fungal infections. It is in the imidazole antifungal class of drugs. This activity describes ketoconazole’s signals, functions and differences as a valuable agent in the treatment of fungal infections. This activity will highlight mechanisms of action for interprofessional team members, adverse event profiles and other major factors in the treatment of fungal infection patients.
Uses of ketoconazole
Many people ask about what ketoconazole is used for and what does ketoconazole treat. We have described all the details here.
Ketoconazole is used to treat skin infections such as athlete foot, jock itching, herpes, and certain types of dandruff. This medicine is also used to treat skin conditions known as pityriasis (tinea versicolor), a fungal infection that lightens or darkens the skin of the neck, chest, hands or feet. Ketoconazole is an azole antifungal that works by preventing the development of fungi.
Ketoconazole has been approved for use in the treatment of fungal skin infections and systemic fungal infections. (*) These include blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, coccidioidomycosis and chromomycosis. The most common use of ketoconazole for skin infection is tinea versicolor. (*)
Due to the advent of more effective fungal infection treatment options, ketoconazole is usually no longer the first-line drug. This should be only one option when other first-line treatments are not available or not tolerated by the patient. Careful risk-benefit analysis is required for the use of this medicine when selecting ketoconazole as a treatment for fungal infections. (*)
Physicians should avoid using ketoconazole in the treatment of onychomycosis, skin dermatophyte and candida infections. (*) Ketoconazole is not indicated in the treatment of fungal meningitis as it does not enter cerebrospinal fluid. Some of the ketoconazole’s off-label uses include Cushing syndrome and prostate cancer.(*)
Ketoconazole is also used for yeast treatment. An early open possible study found ketoconazole (Nizoral; Jenssen) to be extremely effective in treating vulvovaginal candidiasis twice a day for 5 consecutive days, a treatment rate of 96% in 7 days and a rate of 92% in 28 days. (*)
How it works
Ketoconazole cytochrome P450 acts as an antifungal agent by preventing the 14α-demethylase enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for preventing the biosynthesis of triglycerides and phospholipids by the fungi. (*)
More specifically, ketoconazole prevents the synthesis of lanosterol, an essential precursor to ergosterol biosynthesis. Ergosterol is required to maintain the integrity of the membrane of the fungi. (*)(*) Without ergosterol, the fluidity of the membrane increases, which in turn prevents the growth of the fungus.
Ketoconazole, in high doses, can competitively bind androgen receptors such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, which can reduce the activity of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in prostate cancer. Ketoconazole can also prevent 17-alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase enzymes, which are required for the synthesis of steroids in the adrenal cortex, including testosterone. (*)
Ketoconazole enzyme prevents the activity of 21-hydroxylase. This enzyme is required to synthesize mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, in the adrenal cortex. (*) By preventing enzymes involved in cortisol synthesis, ketoconazole can be a treatment option for Cushing syndrome.(*)
Available forms
Ketoconazole is available as a tablet and as an occasional agent in creams, foams and shampoos. This mixture is also available in products.
Ketoconazole is used orally for systemic administration and should be taken at least two hours before any antacid. [*] High pH of gastric material will reduce absorption, so the appropriate time of administration is paramount for its absorption and subsequent efficacy. Adult and pediatric patients with achlorhydria should be given ketoconazole tablets with acidic drinks to reduce pH and allow optimal absorption.
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How to take ketoconazole
The following information describes the ketoconazole dosage commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the prescribed dose for you by your doctor. Your doctor will determine the best dose as per your requirements.
Form and strength
Generic: Ketoconazole
Form: oral tablet
Strength: 200 mg
Dosage for fungal infections
Adult Dosage (age 18 years and more)
Typical dose: 200 mg per day is taken once for 6 months.
Dosage increases: Your doctor can increase your dosage to 400 mg once per day if necessary.
Child Dosage (age 2-17 years)
Your doctor will decide the dosage based on your child’s weight. The dose will range from 3.3-6.6 mg/kg of body weight taken once per day.
Hair Dosage (age 0-1 year)
It has not been confirmed that ketoconazole is safe and effective for use in people under the age of 2. In general, ketoconazole tablets should not be used in young children. (*)
Where not to use
Topical ketoconazole is for external use only. It should not be ingested or used intravaginally. Eyes and mucous membranes should also be avoided.
Patients should apply cream and gel only on the affected area and its surrounding areas. Foam should be applied directly to the infected area to avoid melting in the hands.
Washing hands after applying cream and gel is necessary to prevent any adverse reaction from the drug. Shampoo application should be applied to the scalp and washed thoroughly.
Bad effects
Systemic ketoconazole administration usually causes gastrointestinal side effects. (*) These include nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, dry mouth, bloating, and discolouration of the tongue.
It can also cause adrenal inadequacy due to its role in the prohibition of enzymes in the steroid synthesis route. Deficiency in cortisol synthesis can lead to orthostatic hypotension. (*) In high doses, it can also cause gynecomastia in men. (*)(*) Ketoconazole can cause severe liver injury and jaundice. (*)
Hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported, such as anaphylaxis and urticaria. High dose ketoconazole is shown to increase the delicateness of the long bone and cause fractures. Other side effects include alcohol intolerance, decrease in platelet count, epistaxis, fatigue, hot flash, hyperlipidemia, insomnia, myalgia, nervousness, paresthesia and peripheral oedema.
Topical ketoconazole can cause skin reactions, including pruritus, stinging and dryness at the application site. There are also reports of dry hair, dry scalp and oily hair while using shampoo containing ketoconazole. Less common adverse effects include abnormal hair texture, alopecia, angioedema, contact dermatitis, eye irritation, headache, hypersensitivity reaction, impetigo and pyogenic granuloma. (*)
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Antinomy
Ketoconazole is contraindicated in patients with acute or chronic liver disease due to its association with hepatotoxicity, which can be fatal. This adrenal inadequacy is contraindicated as high doses of ketoconazole prevent adrenocortical function. [*] Patients with known hypersensitivity reactions to ketoconazole should not be given ketoconazole. [*] Ketoconazole should never be taken with HMG-COA reacts inhibitors as it can increase the risk of myopathy. (*)
Ketoconazole is contraindicated in patients taking benzodiazepine as it can increase plasma concentrations and cause fainting. Patients should never give ketoconazole on antiarrhythmic drugs, cisapride, pimozide, quinidine and ranolazine as it can cause QT prolongation and torsade de pointes. (*)(*)
In patients with bone delicateness, such as postmenopausal women and the elderly, ketoconazole should be used carefully to avoid the risk of fractures. CYP3A4 the liver enzyme metabolizes ketoconazole, and patients taking the drug need caution that prevents CYP3A4 or metabolises are carried out by CYP3A4. (*)(*) Ketoconazole may also be present in breast milk, so breastfeeding is not advised while using the drug. (*)
Precautions
Due to its hepatoxic effects, patients taking oral ketoconazole should monitor their liver function, which occurs through hepatic function tests such as aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphates (ALP), bilirubin, albumin and prothrombin time. (PT).
Hepatic function test should be on the baseline, often during ketoconazole therapy, and after the therapy stops. Period calcium and phosphorus levels are recommended for patients on long-term therapy with ketoconazole. Adrenal function also requires monitoring during treatment with ketoconazole. This monitoring is possible by measuring the blood levels of sodium, potassium, cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormones (ACTH).
Toxicity
This medicine may be toxic when swallowed. If anyone has been overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out then take him to hospital.
Storage Instructions
Store between 59-86 degrees Fahrenheit (15-30 degrees Celsius) away from heat and light at room temperature. Do not store it in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Unless instructed to do so, do not throw the medicines into the toilet or put them in the drain. If this product expires or is no longer required, give it up properly. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more information on how to safely eliminate your product.
Bottom Line
Remember, keep it and all other medicines out of children’s reach, never share your medicines with others and use this medicine only for prescribed signals.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure that the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
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FAQ
➢ Ketoconazole 2% cream (Nizoral cream by Jenssen, and others) is an antifungal drug used to treat various fungal and yeast infections. It is used for topical (applied to the skin) treatment of tinea corporis (herpes), tinea cruris (jock itching), tinea pedis (athlete foot), and tinia (pityriasis) in the treatment of Versicolor (“skin fungus”).; It is also used in the treatment of some skin yeast infections and in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.
➢ Ketoconazole 2% cream is named generic, azole is in the category of antifungal, and it is only available with your prescription.
➢ Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.
➢ Do not use this medication for any skin condition that has not been diagnosed by a doctor.
➢ Wash your hands before and after using this medication.
➢ Clean and dry the affected area. Apply a thin layer of the cream or gel to the affected skin area as directed. This medicine is usually used for only 2 to 4 weeks.
➢ Wait at least 20 minutes after applying for this medicine before you use cosmetics or sunscreen on the treated skin area. Do not wash the treated skin for at least 3 hours after applying ketoconazole topical.
➢ Ketoconazole is an antifungal drug used to treat some infections caused by fungi. Ketoconazole should be used only if you cannot use other antifungal drugs. Ketoconazole can cause serious damage to your liver resulting in liver transplant or death.
➢ It works by killing the yeast (fungi) that causes infection. The most common side effects of cream and shampoo are irritable or red skin.
Apply enough cream to cover the affected and surrounding skin areas and rub gently. To help clean your infection completely, it is very important that you continue to use cream throughout the treatment, even if your symptoms start to clear after a few days.
No, ketoconazole cream is not a steroid. It is an antifungal. Many people will be prescribed ketoconazole cream and a steroid at the same time as both of these can be used to treat the same skin conditions.
Side effects: swelling, irritation or redness. If any of these effects persist or worsen, inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
