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itraconazole vs tretinoin

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

minor Known Drug Interaction

Bortezomib Nintedanib Brentuximab- Panobinostat vedotin Ponatinib Busulfan a Ruxolitinib Erlotinib Sonidegib Gefitinib b Tretinoin (oral) Idelalisib Vandetanib a ImatinibIxabepilone Monitor for adverse reactions. Alitretinoin (oral) Cabergoline Cannabinoids Cinacalcet Galantamine Ivacaftor Monitor for adverse reactions.

Recommendation: Your healthcare provider should check you regularly for any signs of too much medication in your system.

Drug Class
itraconazole Azole Antifungal
tretinoin Retinoid (Topical)
Type
itraconazole Prescription
tretinoin Prescription
Summary
itraconazole

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

tretinoin

Tretinoin capsules help put acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) into remission. You can use this medicine if other treatments have not worked or cannot be used.

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.

tretinoin

Tretinoin capsules treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in adults and children at least 1 year old. APL is a type of cancer where there is a problem with certain blood cells. This medicine is for people whose APL has not responded to other treatments or for whom other treatments are not an option.

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.

tretinoin

Tretinoin is a retinoid, which is similar to vitamin A. It helps the leukemia cells mature properly. This can reduce the number of abnormal cells in your body.

Common Side Effects
itraconazole
  • Nausea
  • Rash
  • Headache
tretinoin
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Dry skin or mouth
  • Bone pain
  • Feeling unwell
FAERS Reports
itraconazole
  • Interaction with another medicine 1,118
  • Fever 570
  • Difficulty breathing 472
  • Lung infection 462
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 446
tretinoin
  • Pain 536
  • Throwing up 462
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 423
  • Skin rash 387
  • Headache 377
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.

tretinoin

Tretinoin capsules can cause serious harm to an unborn baby, including birth defects and miscarriage. If you are a woman who can get pregnant, you must have a negative pregnancy test before starting this medicine and use two forms of birth control during treatment and for 1 month after your last dose. This medicine can also cause Differentiation Syndrome, a serious condition that can be life-threatening. Tell your doctor right away if you have fever, trouble breathing, weight gain, or swelling.

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.

tretinoin

Tretinoin capsules can cause birth defects or miscarriage. If you are pregnant or may become pregnant, do not take this medicine. Do not breastfeed while taking tretinoin capsules and for 1 week after the last dose.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This itraconazole vs tretinoin Comparison

itraconazole is classified in the Azole Antifungal drug class, while tretinoin sits within the Retinoid (Topical) 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 tretinoin has 2,185. 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 minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to taking these together can cause tretinoin to build up in your body because itraconazole slows its removal. this increases the risk of having a bad reaction to the tretinoin.. 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 tretinoin - 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.