What is Nizoral?
Nizoral is often taken by people to treat their serious fungal infections, and it belongs to a group of meds called azole antifungals. Basically, it works by stopping the fungus growth, but it’s not allowed to use it to treat any fungal infections on the skin, nails and the brain.
Recommendations for Use
You need to take Nizoral orally, and most patients use it only once a day, either with or without meals. If you suffer from stomach ulcers, it’s advisable to take this medication with food. Basically, the right dose and treatment length are always based on your individual response and overall health condition. When it comes to kids, their regular dosage must be based on their weight. If you stop taking Nizoral too early, you risk ending up with the return of your fungal infection.
Precautions and Contraindications
Before taking this medication, you need to tell your physician if you have any allergies and such medical conditions as alcohol abuse, liver problems, little stomach acid production, low testosterone blood levels, issues with reduced adrenal gland functioning and so on. It’s not allowed to drink a lot of alcohol when undergoing this treatment because this substance increases the risk of developing severe liver conditions when combined with Nizoral. Older patients are more sensitive to adverse effects caused by this medication.
Drug Interactions
There are certain non-prescription and prescription drugs that may potentially interact with Nizoral and lead to developing serious interactions, so they should be avoided during this treatment. For example, some medications that shouldn’t be combined with Nizoral include other pills that result in liver complications, rifampin, benzodiazepines, ergot meds, ED meds, HIV protease inhibitors, pills for seizures, statin drugs and some others. Another important detail is that Nizoral requires enough acid in the stomach to be absorbed properly. That’s why you shouldn’t take it together with meds that reduce the amount of this acid, including ulcer and heartburn pills, antacids, H2 blockers, drugs that stop or slow down the gut movement, etc. As a smart patient, you need to create a list of meds that you’re taking and show it to your doctor to avoid possible drug interactions and be on a safe side. These interactions lead to serious health problems and increased side effects, such as the ones discussed below.
Side Effects
When taking Nizoral, some patients suffer from vomiting and nausea. The good news is that most of those people who decide to start this treatment don’t feel any discomfort or unwanted symptoms. In rare cases, this medication may result in such adverse effects as headaches, mood and mental changes, vision problems, decreased testosterone blood levels, adrenal gland issues, reduced sperm production and others. Remember that adrenal gland conditions can make it harder for your body to handle physical stress. Most doctors prefer to monitor adrenal gland function of their patients by taking regular blood tests.
Only a few patients may develop serious side effects, such as severe dizziness, unusual tiredness, diarrhea, weakness, menstrual period changes, sudden weight loss, tender or enlarged breasts in men, changes in the sexual drive, fainting, irregular or fast heartbeats, allergic reactions, itching, swelling, difficulty breathing, etc. You need to stop taking Nizoral and go to the hospital once you notice any of these serious symptoms to avoid health complications.