Prescription medication · Azole Antifungal

itraconazole

Also sold as Sporanox. Itraconazole treats fungal infections like blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, and aspergillosis.

Data updated 2026-05-15

11,311
FDA reportsModerately reported
116
InteractionsMany interactions
In shortage
FDA status

What the data shows

itraconazole (Sporanox) is a prescription Azole Antifungal, reported less often than most tracked drugs (11,311 FDA reports), with 116 documented drug interactions.

Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.

itraconazole (Sporanox) is a prescription Azole Antifungal. Itraconazole treats fungal infections like blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, and aspergillosis.

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 →

View Alternatives → Compare with Another Drug → Full Side Effects Report →

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.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from itraconazole's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

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.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 11,311 FDA adverse event reports.

Most-reported reactions

Adverse reactions in FAERS for itraconazole, by number of reports

reports

What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) As of 2025

Reports over time

Adverse-event reports filed for itraconazole each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

02004006008001,000 20042007201020132016201920222025 555

Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.

Where itraconazole sits

itraconazole has more FDA adverse-event reports than 42% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.

fewest reports most reports

Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is itraconazole; the line is the median (50th percentile).

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

Reports Mentioning Death

2,227

19.7% of reports — not proof of cause

Hospitalization Reports

4,304

Top Indication

Product Used For Unknown Indication

Gender Distribution

Female 4,544 (46%)
Male 5,270 (53%)

Age Distribution

0–17 1,103
18–44 1,929
45–64 2,648
65–74 1,549
75+ 917

Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)

# Reaction Reports
1 DRUG INTERACTION 1,118
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
16 COUGH 279
17 VOMITING 276

Reactions in Death Reports

DEATH 265
PNEUMONIA 205
SEPSIS 184
PYREXIA 164
RESPIRATORY FAILURE 156
SEPTIC SHOCK 127
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA 124
CONDITION AGGRAVATED 117
DRUG INTERACTION 102
DYSPNOEA 100

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

DRUG INTERACTION 473
PYREXIA 343
PNEUMONIA 290
DYSPNOEA 281
CONDITION AGGRAVATED 227
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA 214
NAUSEA 193
ANAEMIA 188
DIARRHOEA 186
SEPSIS 166

Source: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Check all your medications →

This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

Can I take itraconazole with food?
Yes, you should always take itraconazole capsules with a full meal.
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Tell your doctor if you have side effects that bother you or don't go away.
Can I drink alcohol while taking itraconazole?
Talk to your doctor about drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.
How long will I need to take itraconazole?
You will need to take this medicine for at least 3 months, or until your infection clears.
What if I have kidney problems?
Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, as itraconazole may not be right for you.
Can itraconazole interact with other medications?
Yes, itraconazole can interact with many other medications. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.
What if I have liver problems?
Tell your doctor if you have liver problems, as itraconazole may not be right for you.
Is there a generic version of itraconazole?
Yes, itraconazole is the generic name for Sporanox.
What does itraconazole look like?
Itraconazole capsules are blue and pink, with "A" and "175" printed on them.
How do I dispose of unused itraconazole?
Ask your pharmacist about the best way to dispose of unused medicine.
What are the common side effects of itraconazole?
The registry lists Nausea, Rash, Headache among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for itraconazole. The compiled record contains 11,311 FDA adverse-event reports. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does itraconazole interact with other medications?
The registry has 116 documented interaction rows for itraconazole. Notable source-record pairings include isavuconazonium, lurasidone, pimozide. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is itraconazole?
itraconazole belongs to the Azole Antifungal drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Itraconazole treats fungal infections like blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, and aspergillosis.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for itraconazole?
The FDA label for itraconazole contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.
Is itraconazole currently in shortage?
Yes, itraconazole is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Visit the FDA Drug Shortages database for the latest updates.

Other drugs grouped near itraconazole - same-class peers and common alternatives.

Compare itraconazole vs acyclovir side-by-side →

Compare beyond drug class

Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share

Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for itraconazole: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.

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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 11,311 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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: March 10, 2025

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page