Two medicines, side by side
Itraconazole vs sildenafil
Itraconazole is labeled for fungal infections; sildenafil for erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of itraconazole since 1992 and of sildenafil since 1998. Pharmacies paid $0.910 per itraconazole 100 mg capsule and $0.132 per sildenafil 100 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026). In FDA's classes, itraconazole is an azole antifungal and sildenafil a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the itraconazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 13, 2026); the sildenafil FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 17, 2023).
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 sildenafil record
Sildenafil (Viagra) · label of November 17, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsVIAGRA is indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. VIAGRA is a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED)
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- March 27, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 60 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.132 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Itraconazole label of July 13, 2026, Sildenafil label of November 17, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do itraconazole and sildenafil differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, itraconazole is an azole antifungal and sildenafil a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor.
How each works, in its label's words: Itraconazole, “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.”; Sildenafil, “The physiologic mechanism of erection of the penis involves release of nitric oxide (NO) in the corpus cavernosum during sexual stimulation.”
Only the itraconazole label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: itraconazole since 2004; sildenafil since 2012 (Drugs@FDA).
| Itraconazole | Sildenafil | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fungal infections | Erectile dysfunction, Pulmonary arterial hypertension |
| Pharmacologic class | Azole Antifungal | Phosphodiesterase 5 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. | The physiologic mechanism of erection of the penis involves release of nitric oxide (NO) in the corpus cavernosum during sexual stimulation. |
| 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 | March 27, 1998 |
| First generic approved | May 28, 2004 | November 6, 2012 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 11 labelers | 60 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.910 per capsule (Itraconazole 100 mg capsule) | $0.132 per tablet (Sildenafil 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | -11% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 11,610 | 126,558 |
| 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, drug interactionsAliskiren Riociguat Sildenafil (for pulmonary hypertension) Tadalafil (for pulmonary hypertension) Not recommended during and 2 weeks after SPORANOX ® treatment.
Itraconazole label, drug interactionsAliskiren Riociguat Sildenafil (for pulmonary hypertension) Tadalafil (for pulmonary hypertension) Not recommended during and 2 weeks after TOLSURA treatment.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to itraconazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions