What is Itraconazole?
Itraconazole is an oral antifungal that helps treat moderate to severe tinea versicolor, or cases where the symptoms havenโt cleared with topical treatments.
Tinea versicolor, also known as pityriasis versicolor, is a fungal skin infection. The symptoms typically include dry, scaly patches on your skin that are discolored. Although it isn’t painful, the skin symptoms it causes can make people self-conscious.
How does Itraconazole work?
Itraconazole is an antifungal that prevents ergosterol from being made. Ergosterol is an essential component of the fungal cell membrane. Without it, fungal cells canโt function properly and develop, which eventually causes them to expire.[1]
Will I get side effects from taking Itraconazole?
Yes, you might get side effects when taking Itraconazole, although not everyone will get them. Common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rash
- Stomach ache
- Headache
For more information, check the package leaflet that comes with your medicine.
What forms does Itraconazole come in?
Itraconazole comes as an oral capsule. As it works systemically, itโs more effective than topical antifungals,[2] so youโll use it for a shorter duration compared to creams.
How does Itraconazole compare with fluconazole?
There is data available comparing the two for tinea versicolor[3], but itraconazole was given as a single 400mg dose in this study. That doesnโt reflect how itโs always prescribed in practice, as it can also be prescribed as 200mg twice a day for seven days.
In the study, which compared single doses of itraconazole and fluconazole, the results showed more patients in the fluconazole group (65%) were cured compared to those using itraconazole (20%). Additionally, more patients relapsed in the itraconazole group than the fluconazole group.
But this may not be an accurate representation of how well itraconazole would work in a realistic setting, as sometimes itโs prescribed as 200 mg daily for a week[4], rather than a single-dose.
What doses of Itraconazole are there?
Itraconazole comes as a 100 mg tablet. The dose for tinea versicolor is either:
- 200 mg daily for seven days or:
- 400mg single dose.
Treatment courses can be repeated monthly if needed.
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