Ketoconazole is an antifungal medication, which is available in the form of pills, cream or shampoo, being effective against skin mycoses, oral candidiasis, vaginal and seborrheic dermatitis.
This active substance is available in generic or under the trade names Nizoral, Candoral, Lozan or Cetonax, for example, and should only be used by medical indication for the time recommended by it, and can be purchased in pharmacies, for a price that can vary from 3 to 58 reais, depending on the pharmaceutical form and the size of the packaging. See the care that should be taken when buying medicines over the internet.
What is it for
Ketoconazole tablets can be used to treat problems such as vaginal candidiasis, oral candidiasis, seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff or ringworm of the skin.
In addition, for skin mycoses, such as cutaneous candidiasis, Tinea corporis , Tinea cruris , athlete's foot and white cloth, for example, ketoconazole in cream is recommended and in the case of white cloth, seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff, it can also be ketoconazole used in shampoo.
How to use
1. Pills
Ketoconazole tablets should be taken with a meal. Generally, the recommended dose is 1 200 mg tablet once a day and in some cases, when the clinical response is insufficient for the 200 mg dose, it can be increased, by the doctor, to 2 tablets a day.
In the case of children over 2 years, it should also be taken with a meal, the dose varying with weight:
- Children weighing between 15 and 30 kg: The recommended dose is 100 mg of Ketoconazole (half the tablet), in a single dose. Children weighing more than 30 kg: The recommended dose is 200 mg of Ketoconazole (whole tablet), in a single dose. In some cases, the doctor may recommend increasing this dose to 400 mg.
2. Cream
The cream should be applied once a day, and hygiene measures should also be practiced to help control contamination and reinfection factors. The results are seen after 4 weeks of treatment.
3. Shampoo
The ketoconazole shampoo should be applied to the scalp, leaving it to act for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing, and in the case of seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff, 1 application is indicated, twice a week, for 2 to 4 weeks.
Possible side effects
Side effects vary with the form of use, and in the oral case it can cause vomiting, nausea, belly pain, headache and diarrhea. In the case of the cream it can occur itching, local irritation and stinging sensation and in the case of the shampoo, it can cause hair loss, irritation, change in the texture of the hair, itching, dry or oily skin and sores on the scalp.
Who should not use
Ketoconazole should not be used in people who are hypersensitive to any of the components of the formula.
In addition, the tablets should not be used in people with acute or chronic liver disease, pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding, without medical advice.
