Sporanox Review Article |
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Merketed as Sporanox by Janssen Pharmaceutical, itraconazale is an azole antifungal medicine, which kills sensitive fungi by interfering with the formation of the fungal membrane. It is available as capsules (100mg) or oral solution (10mg/ml). Sporanox is prescribed for treating of fungal infections in both HIV and non HIV infected individuals and is active against three types of serious fungal infections: blastomycosis, hystoplasmosis and aspergillosi, which can invade any part of the body including the mouth or throat, toenails, fingernails and lungs. It can also be used to treat patients with fever and low white blood cell counts who are likely to develop a fungal infection. You must avoid taking Sporanox if you are allergic to itraconazole or similar medications such as Diflucan or Nizoral, or if you have ever had congestive heart failure or if you are pregnant or you intend to become pregnant during treatment. Before taking Sporanox you should talk to your doctor and tell him all the medications you take, because some of them can interact with Sporanox. Also, you should let your doctor know if you have a heart disease, a history of stroke, a heart rhythm disorder, a breathing disorder, kidney or liver disease or a history of “Long QT syndrome”.
| Dosage |
Packing |
Price |
Add to basket |
| 100 mg |
28 tab ($4.7 per capsule) |
USD 132.00 |
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| 100 mg |
56 tab ($4.3 per capsule) |
USD 240.00 |
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| 100 mg |
84 tab ($3.9 per capsule) |
USD 335.00 |
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Why is this drug prescribed?
Sporanox capsules are used to treat four types of serious fungal infection: blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, aspergillosis, and onychomycosis. Blastomycosis can affect the lungs, bones, and skin. Histoplasmosis can affect the lungs, heart, and blood. Aspergillosis can affect the lungs, kidneys, and other organs. Onychomycosis affects the nails. Sporanox is also used against fungal infections in people with weak immune systems, such as AIDS patients. Sporanox oral solution is used to treat candidiasis (fungal infection) of the mouth, throat, and gullet (esophagus), and for other fungal infections in people with weakened immunity and fever.
Most important fact about this drug:
Be sure to take Sporanox for as long as your doctor prescribes. It will take 3 months or more to cure some infections completely. If you stop taking Sporanox too soon, the infection may return.
How should you take this medication?
Take Sporanox exactly as prescribed. To make sure the capsules are properly absorbed, you should take them after a full meal; the oral solution should be taken without food. A cola drink can help some people absorb the capsules better. Continue taking Sporanox until all the medication is gone. Do not take antacids within 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking Sporanox.
Swish the oral solution, 10 milliliters at a time, in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing it.
Mouth and throat candidiasis should clear up in several days.
The oral solution and capsules cannot be used interchangeably.
• If you miss a dose...
Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never try to ``catch up'' by doubling the dose.
• Storage instructions...
Store at room temperature. Protect the capsules from light and moisture. Do not freeze the oral solution.
What side effects may occur?
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Sporanox.
• More common side effects may include:
Anxiety, bursitis, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, gas, headache, high blood pressure, indigestion, injury, muscle pain, nasal and sinus inflammation, nausea, pain, rash, respiratory infection, swelling due to water retention, urinary infection, vomiting
• Less common side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, abnormal dreams, allergic reaction, decreased sexual drive, dizziness, extreme sleepiness, feeling of general discomfort, gum inflammation, hives, increased appetite, inflamed stomach and intestines, itching, loss of appetite, reproductive disorders such as male impotence, sleepiness, sore throat, tremor, weakness
• Rare side effects may include:
Blood abnormalities, congestive heart failure, constipation, depression, fluid in the lungs, hair loss, hepatitis, high triglyceride levels, liver failure, male breast development, male breast pain, menstrual disorders, nerve disorders, ringing in the ears, severe allergic reaction, skin peeling, sleeplessness
• Additional side effects that may be seen with the oral solution are:
Back pain, blood in the urine, breathing difficulty, chest pain, cough, dehydration, difficulty swallowing, hemorrhoids, hot flushes, impaired speech, inflamed mouth, insomnia, pneumonia, shivering, sweating, vision problems, weight loss
People being treated for onychomycosis may experience stomach and intestinal disorders or rash, or, less commonly, headache, light-headedness upon standing up, low blood pressure, muscle pain, a sick feeling, or vertigo.
Why should this drug not be prescribed?
If you are sensitive to or have ever had an allergic reaction to Sporanox or similar antifungal drugs such as Nizoral, you should not take this medication. Make sure that your doctor is aware of any drug reactions that you have experienced.
Sporanox can have a negative effect on the heart. It should not be used for fungal nail infections in people with cardiac problems such as congestive heart failure.
Serious heart problems, such as irregular heartbeats and even death, have occurred in people who have taken Sporanox at the same time as Orap or Quinidex. Never take these drugs with Sporanox, and avoid Halcion, Versed, Mevacor, Tikosyn, and Zocor capsules as well.
During pregnancy, Sporanox should not be used for treatment of fungal nail infections.
Special warnings about this medication:
In rare cases, Sporanox has been known to cause liver failure and even death. If you have liver disease, or if you take Sporanox continuously for more than a month, your doctor should monitor your liver function periodically. If you develop such symptoms of liver disease as unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, dark urine, or pale stool, stop taking Sporanox and contact your doctor immediately.
People with cardiac problems such as congestive heart failure should avoid Sporanox unless the benefit clearly outweighs the danger. In fact, anyone who is even at risk of heart failure should use Sporanox with caution. Risk factors include heart and lung disorders and kidney failure. If you experience swelling--especially in the feet and ankles--or difficulty breathing while taking Sporanox, stop taking this medication and contact your doctor immediately.
If you develop any nerve disorders while taking Sporanox, see your doctor. Treatment will probably need to be discontinued.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking this medication:
If Sporanox is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Sporanox with any of the following:
Acid-blocking drugs such as Tagamet, Pepcid, and Zantac
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
Blood-thinning drugs such as Coumadin
Buspirone (BuSpar)
Busulfan (Myleran)
Calcium channel blockers such as Cardene, Norvasc, and Procardia
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
Diazepam (Valium)
Dofetilide (Tikosyn)
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Docetaxel (Taxotere)
Erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, and others)
Indinavir (Crixivan)
Isoniazid
Lovastatin (Mevacor)
Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
Midazolam (Versed)
Nevirapine (Viramune)
Oral diabetes medications such as DiaBeta, Diabinese, Glucotrol, Micronase, Orinase, and Tolinase
Phenobarbital
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Pimozide (Orap)
Quinidine (Quinidex)
Rifabutin (Mycobutin)
Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
Ritonavir (Norvir)
Saquinavir (Invirase)
Simvastatin (Zocor)
Sirolimus (Rapamune)
Tacrolimus (Prograf)
Triazolam (Halcion)
Trimetrexate (Neutrexin)
Vinblastine (Velban)
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding: The effects of Sporanox during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. You should not take Sporanox to treat onychomycosis if you are or may become pregnant. In any event, Sporanox should not be used during pregnancy if the problem is a nail infection. In other cases, check with your doctor before you take Sporanox. Sporanox appears in breast milk and could affect a nursing infant. If this medication is essential to your health, your doctor may advise you to discontinue breastfeeding until your treatment with Sporanox is finished.
Recommended dosage
ADULTS:
Blastomycosis and Histoplasmosis
The usual dose is two 100-milligram capsules, taken after a full meal once a day. If you feel no improvement, or if there is evidence that the fungal disease has spread, your doctor will increase the dose 100 milligrams at a time to a maximum of 400 milligrams a day. Daily dosages above 200 milligrams a day should be divided into 2 smaller doses.
Aspergillosis
The usual dose is 200 to 400 milligrams a day. Treatment usually continues for a minimum of 3 months, until tests indicate that the fungal infection has subsided.
Onychomycosis
The usual dose for a toenail infection, whether or not fingernails are also involved, is 200 milligrams once a day for 12 weeks.
If only fingernails are infected, treatment is given in two 7-day-long sessions during which you take 200 milligrams of Sporanox twice a day, with a 3-week rest period between sessions.
Candidiasis, mouth and throat
The usual dose is 20 milliliters of oral solution a day for 1 to 2 weeks. If the infection does not go away, your dose will be changed to 10 milliliters twice a day.
Candidiasis, esophagus
The usual dose is 10 milliliters of oral solution a day for at least 3 weeks. You should continue the treatment for 2 weeks after your symptoms clear up. If necessary, the doctor may increase the dose to 20 milliliters a day.
Fungal infections in people with weakened immunity and fever
Recommended treatment starts with 200-milligram injections twice a day for 2 days followed by 200 milligrams injected once a day for up to 14 days. This may be followed by 20 milliliters of oral solution twice a day for up to a total of 28 days of treatment
CHILDREN:
The safety and effectiveness of Sporanox in children have not been established.
Overdosage:
Any drug taken in excess can have dangerous consequences. If you suspect an overdose, seek emergency medical treatment immediately.
Sporanox notes:
Sporanox generic name itraconazole is used to treat infections caused by fungus, which infects the lungs, mouth, throat, toe or finger nails.
The recommended dosage of sporanox is exactly as prescribed by doctor. Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. If a dose is missed, it is advised to consume it as soon as it is remembered. If it is near the time of the next dose, the missed one should be skip and the usual dosing schedule should be resume and strictly not to double the dose to catch up.
Medicines like fluconazole and sporanox are used in treatment of chronic candida and for vaginal yeast infections. These drugs are completely absorbed by intestine but can cause liver damage.
The average price of sporanox is $65 for pack of 15 tablets.
Sporanox pulse is a capsule available in 28 capsules per pack which contains itraconazole as the active ingredient and is taken orally. It helps by penetrating into the infected area faster as compared to tablet. The treatment is quick with pulses of treatment rather than one long continuous course.
Itraconazole is available under brand name of Orungal in 100gm dosage pack.
Store itraconazole at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
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