Two medicines, side by side
Itraconazole vs lovastatin
Itraconazole is labeled for fungal infections; lovastatin for high cholesterol and heart attack and coronary artery disease. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of itraconazole since 1992 and of lovastatin since 1987. Pharmacies paid $0.910 per itraconazole 100 mg capsule and $0.0436 per lovastatin 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, itraconazole is an azole antifungal and lovastatin a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the itraconazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 13, 2026); the lovastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 6, 2026).
Highlights of the itraconazole record
Itraconazole (Sporanox) · label of July 13, 2026
Congestive Heart Failure, Cardiac Effects and Drug Interactions Congestive Heart Failure and Cardiac Effects SPORANOX ® (itraconazole) Capsules should not be administered for the treatment of onychomycosis in patients with evidence of ventricular dysfunction such as congestive heart failure (CHF) or a history of CHF. If signs or symptoms of congestive heart failure occur during administration of SPORANOX ® Capsules, discontinue administration.
Used for
From the label: indicationsSPORANOX ® (itraconazole) Capsules are indicated for the treatment of the following fungal infections in immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised patients: Blastomycosis, pulmonary and extrapulmonary Histoplasmosis, including chronic cavitary pulmonary disease and disseminated, non-meningeal histoplasmosis, and Aspergillosis, pulmonary and extrapulmonary, in patients who are intolerant of or who are refractory to amphotericin B therapy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 11, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 11 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.910 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the lovastatin record
Lovastatin (Mevacor) · label of May 6, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsTherapy with lovastatin tablets USP should be a component of multiple risk factor intervention in those individuals with dyslipidemia at risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 31, 1987
- Generic labelers
- 19 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0436 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Itraconazole label of July 13, 2026, Lovastatin label of May 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do itraconazole and lovastatin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, itraconazole is an azole antifungal and lovastatin a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor.
Only the itraconazole label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: itraconazole since 2004; lovastatin since 2001 (Drugs@FDA).
| Itraconazole | Lovastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fungal infections | High cholesterol, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Azole Antifungal | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Mechanism of Action In vitro studies have demonstrated that itraconazole inhibits the cytochrome P450-dependent synthesis of ergosterol, which is a vital component of fungal cell membranes. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The terminal half-life of itraconazole generally ranges from 16 to 28 hours after single dose and increases to 34 to 42 hours with repeated dosing. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 11, 1992 | August 31, 1987 |
| First generic approved | May 28, 2004 | December 17, 2001 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 11 labelers | 19 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.910 per capsule (Itraconazole 100 mg capsule) | $0.0436 per tablet (Lovastatin 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 11,610 | 25,526 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Itraconazole label, boxed warning… lurasidone, oral midazolam, pimozide, triazolam, felodipine, nisoldipine, ivabradine, ranolazine, eplerenone, cisapride, naloxegol, lomitapide, lovastatin, simvastatin, avanafil, ticagrelor, finerenone, voclosporin.
Itraconazole label, contraindications… lurasidone, oral midazolam, pimozide, triazolam, felodipine, nisoldipine, ivabradine, ranolazine, eplerenone, cisapride, naloxegol, lomitapide, lovastatin, simvastatin, avanafil, ticagrelor, finerenone, voclosporin.
Lovastatin label, warningsThese include itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, the macrolide antibiotics erythromycin and clarithromycin, the ketolide antibiotic telithromycin, HIV protease inhibitors, boceprevir, telaprevir, the antidepressant nefazodone, or cobicistat-containing products.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to itraconazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions