1 May 2026Oral drugs
Itraconazole oral
Itraconazole guidance for histoplasmosis, penicilliosis, prophylaxis, and scalp dermatophytosis, with interaction and heart failure precautions.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Antifungal.
Indications
- Histoplasmosis and penicilliosis: treatment and secondary prophylaxis.
- Dermatophytosis of the scalp (tinea capitis).
Forms and strengths
- 100 mg capsule.
- Also comes in 50 mg/5 ml oral solution.
Dose and duration
Histoplasmosis (moderate symptoms)
- Child: 5 mg/kg once daily for 6 to 12 weeks.
- Adult: 200 mg 3 times daily for 3 days then 200 mg 1 to 2 times daily for 6 to 12 weeks.
Histoplasmosis (severe symptoms, disseminated form)
- Same treatment for 12 weeks, preceded by 1 to 2 weeks of treatment with amphotericin B.
Penicilliosis (moderate symptoms)
- Adult: 200 mg 2 times daily for 8 weeks.
Penicilliosis (severe symptoms)
- Same treatment for 10 weeks, preceded by 2 weeks of treatment with amphotericin B.
Secondary prophylaxis of histoplasmosis and penicilliosis
- Adult: 200 mg once daily as long as required.
Dermatophytosis of the scalp
- Child: 3 to 5 mg/kg once daily for 4 weeks.
- Adult: 200 mg once daily for 2 to 4 weeks.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Administer with caution and monitor use in patients over 60 years or with hepatic or renal impairment or congestive heart failure.
- May cause gastrointestinal disturbances, headache, severe skin reactions, anaphylactic reaction, hepatic disorders, paraesthesia, oedema, and cardiac failure. Stop treatment for anaphylactic reaction, hepatic disorders, or severe skin reaction.
- In prolonged treatment, monitor liver function.
- Do not combine with quinidine.
- Avoid or monitor combination with amiodarone, calcium-channel blockers, benzodiazepines, certain antiretrovirals, corticosteroids, warfarin, carbamazepine, and digoxin.
- Itraconazole efficacy may be reduced when combined with rifampicin, rifabutin, isoniazid, efavirenz, phenytoin, or phenobarbital.
- Do not administer simultaneously with aluminium or magnesium hydroxide; administer 2 hours apart.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: avoid.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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