This summary contains important information about itraconazole capsules. This information is for patients who have been prescribed itraconazole capsules to treat fungal nail infections
. If your doctor prescribed itraconazole capsules for medical problems other than fungal nail infections, ask your doctor if there is any information in this summary that does not apply to you. Read this information carefully each time you start to use itraconazole capsules. This information does not take the place of discussion between you and your doctor. Only your doctor can decide if itraconazole capsules are the right treatment for you. If you do not understand some of this information or have any questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ITRACONAZOLE CAPSULES?
Itraconazole capsules are used to treat fungal nail infections. However, itraconazole capsules are not for everyone.
Do not take itraconazole capsules for fungal nail infections if you have had heart failure, including congestive heart failure. You should not take itraconazole capsules if you are taking certain medicines that could lead to serious or life-threatening medical problems. (See "
Who Should Not Take Itraconazole Capsules?" below.)
If you have had heart, lung, liver, kidney or other serious health problems, ask your doctor if it is safe for you to take itraconazole capsules.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE A FUNGAL NAIL INFECTION?
Anyone can have a fungal nail infection, but it is usually found in adults. When a fungus infects the tip or sides of a nail, the infected part of the nail may turn yellow or brown. If not treated, the fungus may spread under the nail towards the cuticle. If the fungus spreads, more of the nail may change color, may become thick or brittle, and the tip of the nail may become raised. In some patients, this can cause pain and discomfort.
WHAT ARE ITRACONAZOLE CAPSULES?
Itraconazole capsules are a prescription medicine used to treat fungal infections of the toenails and fingernails. It is also used to
treat some types of fungal infections in other areas of your body. We do not know if itraconazole capsules works in children with
fungal nail infections or if it is safe for children to take.
Itraconazole comes in the form of capsules and liquid (oral solution). The capsule and liquid forms work differently, so you
should not use one in place of the other. This Patient Information discusses only the capsule form of itraconazole. You will get
these capsules in a medicine bottle or a itraconazole capsules DosingPak. The DosingPak contains 28 capsules for treatment of
your fungal nail infection.
Itraconazole goes into your bloodstream and travels to the source of the infection underneath the nail so that it can fight the
infection there. Improved nails may not be obvious for several months after the treatment period is finished because it usually
takes about 6 months to grow a new fingernail and 12 months to grow a new toenail.
WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE ITRACONAZOLE CAPSULES?
Itraconazole capsules are not for everyone. Your doctor will decide if itraconazole capsules are the right treatment for you.
Some
patients should not take itraconazole capsules because they may have certain health problems or may be taking certain
medicines that could lead to serious or life-threatening medical problems.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist the name of all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you are taking, including dietary supplements and herbal remedies. Also tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you have had, especially heart, lung, liver or kidney conditions; or if you have cystic fibrosis, or have had an allergic reaction to itraconazole capsules or any other antifungal medicines.
Never take Itraconazole capsules if you:
- have had heart failure, including congestive heart failure.
- are taking any of the medicines listed below. Dangerous or even life-threatening side effects could result:
- avanafil (such as Stendra™)
- cisapride (such as Propulsid
®)
- colchicine (such as Colcrys™) [if you also have pre-existing kidney or liver impairment]
- disopyramide (such as Norpace
®)
- dofetilide (such as Tikosyn™)
- dronedarone (such as Multaq
®)
- eliglustat (such as Cerdelga
™) [if you know you do not break down drugs that are broken down by the enzyme CYP 2D6]
- eplerenone (such as Inspra
®)
- ergot alkaloids (such as Migranal
®, Ergonovine, Cafergot
®, Methergine
®)
- felodipine (such as Plendil
®)
- fesoterodine (such as Toviaz
®) [if you also have pre-existing kidney or liver impairment]
- irinotecan (such as Camptosar
®)
- isavuconazole (such as Cresemba
®)
- ivabradine (such as Corlanor
®)
- lomitapide (such as Juxtapid
™)
- lovastatin (such as Mevacor
®, Advicor
®, Altocor™)
- lurasidone (such as Latuda
®)
- methadone (such as Dolophine
®)
- midazolam (such as Versed
®)
- naloxegol (such as Movantik
®)
- nisoldipine (such as Sular
®)
- pimozide (such as Orap
®)
- quinidine (such as Cardioquin
®, Quinaglute
®, Quinidex
®)
- ranolazine (such as Ranexa
®)
- simvastatin (such as Zocor
®)
- solifenacin (such as Vesicare
®) [if you also have pre-existing kidney or liver impairment]
- ticagrelor (such as Brilinta
®)
- triazolam (such as Hacion
®)
- have ever had an allergic reaction to itraconazole.
Taking itraconazole capsules with certain other medicines may lead to serious or life-threatening medical problems. Tell your doctor and pharmacist the name of all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you are taking, including dietary supplements and herbal remedies. Your doctor will decide if itraconazole capsules is the right treatment for you.
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT ITRACONAZOLE CAPSULES AND PREGNANCY OR BREAST FEEDING?
Never take itraconazole capsules if you have a fungal nail infection and are pregnant or planning to become pregnant within 2 months after you have finished your treatment.
If you are able to become pregnant, you should use effective birth control during itraconazole capsules treatment and for 2 months after finishing treatment. Ask your doctor about effective types of birth control.
If you are breast-feeding, talk with your doctor about whether you should take itraconazole capsules.
HOW SHOULD I TAKE ITRACONAZOLE CAPSULES?
Always take itraconazole capsules during or right after a full meal.
Your doctor will decide the right dose for you. Depending on your infection, you will take itraconazole capsules once a day for 12 weeks, or twice a day for 1 week in a "pulse" dosing schedule. You will receive either a bottle of capsules or a DosingPak. Do not skip any doses. Be sure to finish all your itraconazole capsules as prescribed by your doctor.
If you have ever had liver problems, your doctor should do a blood test to check your condition. If you haven't had liver problems, your doctor may recommend blood tests to check the condition of your liver because patients taking itraconazole capsules can develop liver problems.
Itraconazole capsules can sometimes cause dizziness or blurred/double vision. If you have these symptoms, do not drive or use machines.
If you forget to take or miss doses of itraconazole capsules, ask your doctor what you should do with the missed doses.
Itraconazole Capsules 100 mg DosingPak
If you use the DosingPak, you will take itraconazole capsules 100 mg for 1 week and then take no itraconazole capsules 100 mg for the next 3 weeks before repeating the 1-week treatment. This is called "pulse dosing." Itraconazole capsules 100 mg DosingPak contains enough medicine for one "pulse" (1 week of treatment).
Itraconazole capsules 100 mg DosingPak comes with special instructions. It contains 7 blisters-one for each day of treatment. Inside each blister containing 4 capsules.
- Take 2 capsules in the morning and 2 capsules in the evening. This means you will take 4 capsules a day for 7 days. At the end of 7 days, you will have taken all of the capsules in the DosingPak box.
- After you finish the DosingPak, do not take any itraconazole capsules for the next 3 weeks. Even though you are not taking any capsules during this time, itraconazole capsules keeps working inside your nails to help fight the fungal infection.
- You will need more than one "pulse" to treat your fungal nail infection. When your doctor prescribes another pulse treatment, be sure to get your refill before the end of week 4.
| Itraconazole Capsules Pulse Dosing |
|---|
| Take 2 itraconazole capsules 100 mg twice a day for 1 week |
|---|
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 |
|---|
| AM | PM | AM | PM | AM | PM | AM | PM | AM | PM | AM | PM | AM | PM |
|---|
Week 1 | // | // | // | // | // | // | // | // | // | // | // | // | // | // |
| |
| Week 2 | For the next 3 weeks, do not take any itraconazole capsules. |
|
| Week 3 | Remember to get a refill before the end of Week 4
when your doctor prescribes another DosingPak.
|
|
| Week 4 | |
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF ITRACONAZOLE CAPSULES?
The most common side effects include: headache, and digestive system problems (such as nausea, and abdominal pain).
Stop itraconazole capsules and call your doctor or get medical assistance right away if you have a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching, hives, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and/or swelling of the face. Very rarely, an oversensitivity to sunlight, a tingling sensation in the limbs or a severe skin disorder can occur. If any of these symptoms occur, stop taking itraconazole capsules and contact your doctor.
Stop itraconazole capsules and call your doctor right away if you develop shortness of breath; have unusual swelling of your feet, ankles or legs; suddenly gain weight; are unusually tired; cough up white or pink phlegm; have unusual fast heartbeats; or begin to wake up at night. In rare cases, patients taking itraconazole capsules could develop serious heart problems, and these could be warning signs of heart failure.
Stop itraconazole capsules and call your doctor right away if you become unusually tired; lose your appetite; or develop nausea, abdominal pain, or vomiting, a yellow color to your skin or eyes, or dark colored urine or pale stools (bowel movements). In rare cases, patients taking itraconazole could develop serious liver problems and these could be warning signs.
Stop itraconazole capsules and call your doctor right away if you experience any hearing loss symptoms. In very rare cases, patients taking itraconazole capsules have reported temporary or permanent hearing loss.
Call your doctor right away if you develop tingling or numbness in your extremities (hands or feet), if your vision gets blurry or you see double, if you hear a ringing in your ears, if you lose the ability to control your urine or urinate much more than usual.
Additional possible side effects include upset stomach, vomiting, constipation, fever, inflammation of the pancreas, menstrual disorder, erectile dysfunction, dizziness, muscle pain, painful joints, unpleasant taste, or hair loss. These are not all the side effects of itraconazole capsules. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you a more complete list.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I TAKE AN OVERDOSE OF ITRACONAZOLE CAPSULES?
If you think you took too much itraconazole capsules, call your doctor or local poison control center, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
HOW SHOULD I STORE ITRACONAZOLE CAPSULES?
Keep all medicines, including itraconazole capsules, out of the reach of children.
Store itraconazole capsules and the DosingPak at room temperature in a dry place away from light.
GENERAL ADVICE ABOUT ITRACONAZOLE CAPSULES
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Do not use itraconazole capsules for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give itraconazole to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
This leaflet summarizes the most important information about itraconazole. If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about itraconazole capsules that is written for health professionals or go to
www.accordhealthcare.us or call Accord Healthcare Inc. at 1-866-941-7875.
This patient information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Manufactured For:
Accord Healthcare, Inc.,
1009, Slater Road,
Suite 210-B,
Durham, NC 27703,
USA
Manufactured By:
Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited,
Plot No. : 457, 458,
Village – Matoda,
Bavla Road, Ta.- Sanand,
Dist.- Ahmedabad – 382 210.
India.
10 2089 1 680095
Issued December 2017