ketoconazole vs zaleplon
Side-by-side comparison of ketoconazole and zaleplon. 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
Other strong selective CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole can also be expected to increase the exposure of zaleplon.
Recommendation: Your doctor may need to lower your dose of zaleplon. Watch for increased sleepiness or dizziness while taking both medications.
Nizoral
Sonata
Ketoconazole shampoo is an antifungal medicine. It treats a fungal infection on your skin.
Zaleplon (Sonata) is a medicine that helps you fall asleep faster. It is used for short-term treatment of insomnia.
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.
Zaleplon is used to treat insomnia, which means you have trouble falling asleep. It can help you fall asleep faster for up to 30 days. However, it does not increase the total time you sleep or decrease the number of times you wake up during the night.
Ketoconazole is an antifungal medicine. It works by stopping the growth of the fungus. This helps to clear up the infection.
Zaleplon is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow sleep. It affects certain brain chemicals to help you fall asleep.
No common side effects listed.
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Somnolence (sleepiness)
- Feeling tired 929
- Itching 902
- Feeling sick to your stomach 834
- Skin breakout 802
- Loose stool 760
- Feeling sick to your stomach 111
- Killed themselves 88
- Trouble sleeping 80
- Pain in your head 79
- Accidentally falling down 77
You should not use this shampoo if you are allergic to ketoconazole or any of the other ingredients.
Zaleplon can cause complex sleep behaviors like sleepwalking, sleep-driving, and doing other activities while not fully awake. Some of these activities can result in serious injuries or even death. Stop taking zaleplon immediately and call your doctor if you experience any of these behaviors. Zaleplon can be habit-forming. Keep it in a safe place to prevent misuse.
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.
It is not known if zaleplon can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This ketoconazole vs zaleplon Comparison
ketoconazole is classified in the Azole Antifungal drug class, while zaleplon sits within the Non-Benzodiazepine Hypnotic (Z-Drug) 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, ketoconazole has 4,227 submissions while zaleplon has 435. 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 ketoconazole slows down the liver's ability to process zaleplon, which can lead to higher levels of the sleep medicine in your blood.. 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 ketoconazole and zaleplon - 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.