itraconazole
Brand names: Sporanox
Itraconazole capsules are an antifungal medicine. They treat fungal infections in your body.
Drug Shortage Alert
itraconazole is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.96/unit
Generic Available
Yes (7 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Itraconazole treats fungal infections like blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, and aspergillosis.
Common side effects
Nausea, Rash, Headache
Key warnings
Itraconazole can cause congestive heart failure.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take itraconazole capsules with a full meal to help your body absorb the medicine. Swallow the capsules whole. Do not crush or chew them. The usual dose is 2 capsules (200 mg) once a day, but your doctor may adjust this depending on your infection.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store itraconazole capsules at room temperature, away from light and moisture. Keep out of reach of children.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 5,919 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 11,311 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
11,311
Death-Related Reports
2,227
Hospitalization Reports
4,304
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INTERACTION | 1,118 |
| 2 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 1,100 |
| 3 | OFF LABEL USE | 606 |
| 4 | PYREXIA | 568 |
| 5 | DYSPNOEA | 474 |
| 6 | PNEUMONIA | 461 |
| 7 | NAUSEA | 445 |
| 8 | DIARRHOEA | 396 |
| 9 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 387 |
| 10 | FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA | 362 |
| 11 | FATIGUE | 327 |
| 12 | RASH | 300 |
| 13 | ANAEMIA | 296 |
| 14 | NEUTROPENIA | 284 |
| 15 | SEPSIS | 282 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Antihelminthics, Antifungals and Antiprotozoals Isavuconazonium Contraindicated during and 2 weeks after itraconazole treatment.
Mechanism: Itraconazole blocks the body's ability to break down isavuconazonium, which can cause the drug to reach unsafe levels.
What to do: Do not take these medicines together, and wait two weeks after stopping itraconazole before starting the new drug.
Lurasidone Midazolam (oral) a Pimozide Triazolam a Contraindicated during and 2 weeks after itraconazole treatment.
Mechanism: Itraconazole stops the enzymes that process lurasidone, leading to a buildup of the medication in your blood.
What to do: Avoid taking these two drugs together and for at least two weeks after your itraconazole treatment ends.
Apixaban Rivaroxaban Vorapaxar Not recommended during and 2 weeks after itraconazole treatment. Lurasidone Midazolam (oral) a Pimozide Triazolam a Contraindicated during and 2 weeks after itraconazole treatment.
Mechanism: Itraconazole slows down the removal of pimozide from your body, which can increase the risk of serious heart side effects.
What to do: This combination is not allowed during treatment or for two weeks after you finish taking itraconazole.
Analgesics Methadone Contraindicated during and 2 weeks after itraconazole treatment.
Mechanism: Itraconazole prevents your body from clearing methadone, which can lead to a dangerous buildup and breathing issues.
What to do: Do not use these medications together, and wait two weeks after your last dose of itraconazole before taking methadone.
Antipsychotics, Anxiolytics and Hypnotics Alprazolam a Midazolam (IV) a Aripiprazole a Quetiapine Buspirone a Cariprazine Ramelteon Diazepam a Risperidone a Haloperidol a Suvorexant Monitor for adverse reactions. Lurasidone Midazolam (oral) a Pimozide Triazolam a Contraindicated during and 2 weeks after itraconazole treatment.
Mechanism: Itraconazole blocks the breakdown of midazolam, making its calming effects much stronger and potentially dangerous.
What to do: Avoid the oral version of this drug with itraconazole, and ensure a doctor monitors you closely if the IV version is used.
Common Questions
Can I take itraconazole with food?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can I drink alcohol while taking itraconazole?
How long will I need to take itraconazole?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can itraconazole interact with other medications?
What if I have liver problems?
Is there a generic version of itraconazole?
What does itraconazole look like?
How do I dispose of unused itraconazole?
What are the common side effects of itraconazole?
Does itraconazole interact with other medications?
What drug class is itraconazole?
Is itraconazole safe during pregnancy?
Is itraconazole currently in shortage?
Related Medications in Azole Antifungal
Other drugs grouped near itraconazole — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acyclovir
Zovirax
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine.
Compare with itraconazole →
albendazole
Albenza
Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites.
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amphotericin B
Ambisome, Fungizone
Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine.
Compare with itraconazole →
anidulafungin
Eraxis
Eraxis is an antifungal medicine.
Compare with itraconazole →
atovaquone/proguanil
Malarone
Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.
Compare with itraconazole →
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What the FDA Data Shows for itraconazole
The FDA label for itraconazole (sold under brand names such as Sporanox) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Azole Antifungal class. Itraconazole treats fungal infections like blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, and aspergillosis. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Rash, Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 5,919 voluntary reports. The database also lists 116 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.96.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: March 10, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages