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

ketoconazole vs zolpidem

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

moderate Known Drug Interaction

John's wort): Combination use may decrease effect ( 7.2 ) Ketoconazole: Combination use may increase effect ( 7.2 ) 7.1 CNS-Active Drugs CNS Depressants Coadministration of Zolpidem with other CNS depressants increases the risk of CNS depression. CYP3A4 Inhibitors Ketoconazole Ketoconazole, a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor, increased the exposure to and pharmacodynamic effects of Zolpidem.

Recommendation: Your doctor may need to lower your dose of zolpidem and monitor you for increased sleepiness.

Drug Class
ketoconazole Azole Antifungal
zolpidem Non-Benzodiazepine Hypnotic (Z-Drug)
Type
ketoconazole Over-the-Counter
zolpidem Prescription
Summary
ketoconazole

Ketoconazole shampoo is an antifungal medicine. It treats a fungal infection on your skin.

zolpidem

Zolpidem (Ambien) is a medication that helps you fall asleep faster. It is for short-term use only.

What It Treats
ketoconazole

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.

zolpidem

Zolpidem is used to treat insomnia when you have trouble falling asleep. It can help you fall asleep faster. Studies have shown it can decrease the time it takes to fall asleep for up to 35 days.

How It Works
ketoconazole

Ketoconazole is an antifungal medicine. It works by stopping the growth of the fungus. This helps to clear up the infection.

zolpidem

Zolpidem affects a chemical in your brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA helps to slow down brain activity. By affecting GABA, zolpidem helps you to feel sleepy.

Common Side Effects
ketoconazole

No common side effects listed.

zolpidem
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Diarrhea
  • Drugged feeling
FAERS Reports
ketoconazole
  • Feeling tired 929
  • Itching 902
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 834
  • Skin breakout 802
  • Loose stool 760
zolpidem
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 8,383
  • Feeling very tired 8,142
  • Aches and discomfort 6,379
  • Trouble sleeping 6,248
  • Head pain 6,219
Serious Warnings
ketoconazole

You should not use this shampoo if you are allergic to ketoconazole or any of the other ingredients.

zolpidem

Zolpidem can cause complex sleep behaviors like sleepwalking, sleep driving, and doing other activities while not fully awake. Some of these events can cause serious injuries or even death. Stop taking zolpidem right away if you experience any of these behaviors.

Pregnancy
ketoconazole

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.

zolpidem

Taking zolpidem late in pregnancy may cause breathing problems and sleepiness in the newborn. If you are breastfeeding, pump and discard breast milk during treatment and for 23 hours after taking zolpidem.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This ketoconazole vs zolpidem Comparison

ketoconazole is classified in the Azole Antifungal drug class, while zolpidem 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 zolpidem has 35,371. 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 moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to ketoconazole blocks the liver enzyme that breaks down zolpidem, which causes the sleep medicine to stay in your body longer.. 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 zolpidem - 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.