Nizoral MedFacts

Nizoral

Nizoral is used for:

Treating fungal infections. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Nizoral is an azole antifungal. It kills sensitive fungi by interfering with the formation of the fungal cell membrane.

Do NOT use Nizoral if:

• you are allergic to any of the ingredients contained in Nizoral
• you have a fungal infection in the brain membranes (fungal meningitis)
• you are taking an aldosterone blocker (eg, eplerenone), astemizole, cisapride, conivaptan, dofetilide, an ergot alkaloid (eg, ergotamine), erythromycin, midazolam, nevirapine, pimozide, a quinazoline (eg, alfuzosin), quinidine, rifabutin, rifampin, terfenadine, triazolam, or a 5-HT receptor agonist (eg, eletriptan)

Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if any of the above applies to you.

Consider before using Nizoral

Medical Conditions

There are medical conditions that can influence usage of Nizoral . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the medical conditions below applies to you:

• if you are either pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• if you are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any medicine (either prescription or nonprescription), herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you are allergic to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you are allergic to other azole antifungals (eg, itraconazole)
• if you have low stomach acid (eg, hypochlorhydria)
• if you have a history of liver disease, regular alcohol use, alcohol abuse or dependence, or blood problems (eg, prophyria)

Drugs Interaction

There are medicines that may interact with Nizoral . Inform your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, in particular any from the list below:

• Many prescription and nonprescription medicines (eg, used for infections, HIV, seizures, anxiety, sleep, heartburn, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart problems, high blood pressure, allergies, irregular heartbeat, pain, blood thinning, asthma, migraines, mood or mental problems, cancer, prostate problems, immune system suppression, erectile dysfunction, urinary problems, or contraception [birth control]), multivitamin products, and herbal or dietary supplements may interact with Nizoral , increasing the risk of serious side effects
• Nevirapine, rifabutin, or rifampin because they may decrease Nizoral 's effectiveness
• Astemizole, cisapride, dofetilide, erythromycin, pimozide,quinidine, or terfenadine because the risk of severe heart effects may be increased
• Midazolam or triazolam because their actions and the risk of their side effects may be increased by Nizoral , resulting in increased risk of sedation and breathing difficulties
• Aldosterone blockers (eg, eplerenone), conivaptan, ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), quinazolines (eg, alfuzosin) or 5-HT receptor agonists (eg, eletriptan) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Nizoral

This is not a full list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Nizoral may interact with other medicines that you take. Also, consult your health care provider in advance if you are going to start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Nizoral Usage Guidelines

You should use Nizoral as recommended by your doctor. Read the medicine's label for precise dosing instructions.

• Take Nizoral by mouth with or without food.
• Do not take an antacid within 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take Nizoral .
• If you are also taking an anticholinergic (eg, hyoscyamine), an H₂ antagonist (eg, famotidine), or a proton pump inhibitor (eg, omeprazole), take Nizoral at least 2 hours before the H₂ antagonist, proton pump inhibitor, or anticholinergic.
• To clear up your infection completely, take Nizoral for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days.
• Nizoral is the most effective when taken at the same time every day.
• If you miss a dose of Nizoral , take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, ignore the missed one and get back to your normal dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.

Clarify with your health care provider any issues you may have about usage of Nizoral .

Important safety information on nizoral

• Nizoral may cause dizziness or drowsiness. There effects may be worsened when this medicine is taken with aclohol or other medicines. Use Nizoral with caution. Refrain from driving or performing other possibly dangerous activities until you know how you react to it.
• Rarely, Nizoral may cause a severe allergic reaction right after you take the first dose. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the eyelids, face, or lips; or rash or hives. If this happens, seek medical care at once.
• Use of alcohol with Nizoral has rarely caused symptoms such as flushing, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, nausea, and headache. Talk with your doctor before drinking alcohol while taking Nizoral .
• Do NOT take more than the dose recommended by your doctor. Do NOT take it longer than prescribed. However, if you are going to do it, check with your doctor first.
• Nizoral only works against fungi; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold) or bacterial infections.
• Be sure to use Nizoral for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The infection could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
• Diabetes patients - Nizoral may increase the risk of low blood sugar from your diabetes medicine. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are using this medicine. To prevent pregnancy, use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms).
• Lab tests, including liver function tests, may be performed while you use Nizoral . These tests can be used to monitor your medical condition or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Nizoral should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Nizoral while you are pregnant. Nizoral is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while using Nizoral .

Side effects may be caused by Nizoral

Any medicine may cause side effects, but the majority of people have either slight side effects, or dont have it at all. Consult your doctor if any of the most COMMON side effects from the list below persist or start bothering you:

Nausea; stomach pain or upset.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloating; dark urine; decreased sexual ability; depression; irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; loss of appetite; numbness or tingling of the hands or feet; pale stools; severe or persistent nausea or stomach pain; swollen or tender abdomen; thoughts of suicide; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or fatigue; vision changes; vomiting; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

It sholud be noted, that this is not a full list of possible side effects. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Nizoral storage instructions:

Store Nizoral between 59 and 77 degrees F (15 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Nizoral out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions on Nizoral , please consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
• Nizoral is supposed to be used only by the patient it is prescribed to. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or even become worse, inform your doctor.

This article is a summary only, and it does not provide all the information about Nizoral . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.