Ketoconazole: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

What is ketoconazole?

Ketoconazole Cream 2%, for topical administration only, contains the broad-spectrum synthetic antifungal agent, ketoconazole 2%, formulated in an aqueous cream vehicle consisting of propylene glycol, stearyl and cetyl alcohols, sorbitan monostearate, polysorbate 60, isopropyl myristate, sodium sulfite anhydrous, polysorbate 80 and purified water. Ketoconazole is cis -1-acetyl-4-[4-[[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1 H -imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]methoxy]phenyl]piperazine and has the following structural formula: Structural Formula

What kind of drug is ketoconazole?

The FDA classifies ketoconazole as an azole antifungal. Azole antifungals block a fungal enzyme (lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase) that the fungus needs to make ergosterol, a key building block of its cell membrane. Without enough ergosterol the membrane becomes leaky and unstable, which stops the fungus from growing and can cause it to break apart and die. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take ketoconazole with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run ketoconazole against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is ketoconazole sold under?

We track 5 ketoconazole-containing products in the U.S.: Nizoral, Extina, Nizoral Anti-Dandruff, Ketoconazole and Xolegel. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does ketoconazole come in?

Across the brands we track, ketoconazole is currently marketed as topical, spray/inhaler, suspension and tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.