PlainMeds provides educational information only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist.

itraconazole vs sildenafil

Side-by-side comparison of itraconazole and sildenafil. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

major Known Drug Interaction

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Sildenafil can potentiate the hypotensive effects of nitrates, alpha blockers, and anti-hypertensives ( 4.1 , 5.5 , 7.1 , 7.2 , 7.3 , 12.2 ) With concomitant use of alpha blockers, initiate sildenafil at 25 mg dose ( 2.3 ) CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin): Increase sildenafil exposure ( 2.4 , 7.4 , 12.3 ) Ritonavir: Do not exceed a maximum single dose of 25 mg in a 48 hour period ( 2.4 , 5.6 ) Erythromycin or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, saquinavir): Consider a starting dose of 25 mg ( 2.4 , 7.4...

Recommendation: Your doctor should consider starting you on a lower dose of 25 mg of sildenafil.

Drug Class
itraconazole Azole Antifungal
sildenafil PDE5 Inhibitor
Type
itraconazole Prescription
sildenafil Prescription
Summary
itraconazole

Itraconazole capsules are an antifungal medicine. They treat fungal infections in your body.

sildenafil

Sildenafil is a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. It helps increase blood flow to the penis to get and keep an erection.

What It Treats
itraconazole

Itraconazole treats fungal infections like blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, and aspergillosis. It can help both people with healthy immune systems and those with weakened immune systems. It also treats onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the toenails or fingernails.

sildenafil

Sildenafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, in men. ED is when you cannot get or keep an erection firm enough for sex. Sildenafil helps by increasing blood flow to the penis when you are sexually stimulated.

How It Works
itraconazole

Itraconazole stops fungi from growing. It does this by interfering with the production of a substance fungi need to build their cell membranes. This eventually kills the fungus and clears the infection.

sildenafil

Sildenafil belongs to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors. It works by relaxing the muscles and increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. This helps you get and keep an erection.

Common Side Effects
itraconazole
  • Nausea
  • Rash
  • Headache
sildenafil
  • Headache
  • Flushing (redness of the skin)
  • Upset stomach
  • Abnormal vision (blurred vision, changes in color vision)
  • Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
FAERS Reports
itraconazole
  • Interaction with another medicine 1,118
  • Fever 570
  • Difficulty breathing 472
  • Lung infection 462
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 446
sildenafil
  • Shortness of breath 7,729
  • Headache 5,655
  • Diarrhea 4,447
  • Nausea 3,984
  • Death 3,872
Serious Warnings
itraconazole

Itraconazole can cause congestive heart failure. You should not take this medicine if you have heart problems. Itraconazole can also interact with many other medicines. Some of these interactions can be dangerous or even fatal. Check with your doctor about all the medicines you take.

sildenafil

You should not take sildenafil if you are taking nitrates for chest pain, as this can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. If you have an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours, get medical help right away. Stop taking sildenafil and seek medical attention if you have a sudden loss of vision or hearing.

Pregnancy
itraconazole

You should not take itraconazole if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about safe alternatives.

sildenafil

Sildenafil is not for use in women. It is not known if sildenafil can harm an unborn baby or pass into breast milk.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This itraconazole vs sildenafil Comparison

itraconazole is classified in the Azole Antifungal drug class, while sildenafil sits within the PDE5 Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, itraconazole has 3,068 submissions while sildenafil has 25,687. 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 major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to itraconazole stops the body from breaking down sildenafil, which can cause the drug to build up to higher levels.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between itraconazole and sildenafil - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.