budesonide/formoterol vs ketoconazole
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Side-by-side comparison of budesonide/formoterol and ketoconazole. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
After oral administration of ketoconazole, a strong inhibitor of CYP3A4, the mean plasma concentration of orally administered budesonide increased. Caution should be exercised when considering the coadministration of SYMBICORT with long-term ketoconazole and other known strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, telithromycin) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] .
Symbicort
Nizoral
Symbicort is a combination medicine that contains a steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator. It helps to control asthma and COPD symptoms.
Ketoconazole shampoo is an antifungal medicine. It treats a fungal infection on your skin.
Symbicort is used to treat asthma in people 6 years and older. It can help control asthma long-term. Symbicort 160/4.5 is also used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It helps to improve airflow and reduce flare-ups.
This shampoo treats tinea versicolor, a fungal infection. This infection can cause patches on your skin that are lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. These patches may appear on your trunk, neck, arms, and upper thighs.
Symbicort contains two medicines. Budesonide reduces inflammation in the lungs. Formoterol relaxes the muscles around your airways, making it easier to breathe.
Ketoconazole is an antifungal medicine. It works by stopping the growth of the fungus. This helps to clear up the infection.
- • Nasopharyngitis (common cold)
- • Headache
- • Upper respiratory tract infection
- • Sore throat
- • Sinusitis
No common side effects listed.
- Difficulty breathing 6,363
- Asthma 4,697
- Tiredness 3,354
- Cough 3,164
- Headache 2,978
- Fatigue 929
- Pruritus 902
- Nausea 834
- Rash 802
- Diarrhoea 760
Long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs) like formoterol may increase the risk of asthma-related death if used alone. Do not use Symbicort to treat sudden asthma symptoms. Symbicort can also increase your risk of pneumonia, especially if you have COPD. Tell your doctor if you have signs of pneumonia like fever, cough, or increased mucus production.
You should not use this shampoo if you are allergic to ketoconazole or any of the other ingredients.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Symbicort will harm your unborn baby. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. It is also not known if Symbicort passes into breast milk.
It is not known if ketoconazole shampoo can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before using this medicine.
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How to Read This budesonide/formoterol vs ketoconazole Comparison
budesonide/formoterol is classified in the Corticosteroid / Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist Combination drug class, while ketoconazole sits within the Azole Antifungal class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, budesonide/formoterol has 20,556 submissions while ketoconazole has 4,227. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to ketoconazole blocks the specific liver enzyme that normally breaks down budesonide. this causes the steroid levels in your body to rise higher than intended.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for budesonide/formoterol or ketoconazole.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.