What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Ketoconazole and salmeterol
Salmeterol's FDA label of October 10, 2022 names ketoconazole in its drug interactions section; the ketoconazole label PlainMeds reads does not name salmeterol. The salmeterol label: “Strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors: Use not recommended.”
Check it at the source: the ketoconazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 28, 2026, E. Fougera & Co. a division of Fougera Pharmaceuticals, LLC); the salmeterol FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 10, 2022, GlaxoSmithKline LLC).
What does the ketoconazole label say about salmeterol?
Ketoconazole's label (effective January 28, 2026) does not name salmeterol in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (ketoconazole), E. Fougera & Co. a division of Fougera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, effective January 28, 2026 (SPL set cad7c647-34a9-4e4e-83b3-8d78e58f588f), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the salmeterol label say about ketoconazole?
Salmeterol label, drug interactionsStrong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, ketoconazole): Use not recommended.
Salmeterol label, warnings and precautionsInteractions with Strong Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors The use of strong cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, ketoconazole, telithromycin) with SEREVENT DISKUS is not recommended because increased cardiovascular adverse effects may occur [see Drug Interactions ( 7.1 ), Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )].
Source: FDA drug label (SEREVENT DISKUS), GlaxoSmithKline LLC, effective October 10, 2022 (SPL set 12d9728e-6b5c-4aee-bfb0-745e542ed2e4), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Ketoconazole | Salmeterol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fungal infections | Asthma, COPD |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.249 per gram 2% cream | $6.74 per unit 50 mcg |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once