Itracap (Itraconazole)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Itracap Used For?
Itracap contains itraconazole, an antifungal medication used to treat various types of fungal infections that can affect different parts of your body.
Primary Uses
Itracap treats persistent infections of the nails, skin, hands, feet, or groin; persistent candida (yeast) infections of the vagina; eye infections that haven’t responded to other treatments or may be affecting vision; candida infections of the mouth or throat in patients with weakened immune systems; and generalized fungal infections throughout the body.
How It Works
Itracap works by killing or stopping the growth of the fungus that causes the infection, helping your body clear the infection naturally.
Good to know: Don’t worry if you don’t see immediate improvement – with skin infections, marks typically disappear weeks after finishing treatment as new skin grows, and nail infections may take 6-9 months to clear as new nail grows.
How to Take Itracap
Itracap capsules are specially designed to provide higher blood levels than other itraconazole formulations. A 50mg Itracap capsule equals 100mg of other brands, but they are not interchangeable.
Dosage Instructions
Always take Itracap after a meal and swallow capsules whole. Dosages vary by condition: Tinea of body & groin: 1 capsule daily for 2 weeks; Tinea of hands & feet: 1 capsule daily for 4 weeks; Other skin infections: 2 capsules daily for 1 week; Eye infections: 2 capsules daily for 3 weeks; Vaginal infections: 2 capsules morning & evening for 1 day, or 2 capsules daily for 3 days; Mouth infections: 1-2 capsules daily for 4 weeks; Systemic infections: 1-2 capsules once or twice daily for 3 weeks to 8 months; Nail infections: Either 2 capsules daily for 3 months continuously, or pulse therapy with 2 capsules twice daily for 1 week, then 3 weeks off, repeated as directed.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Take Itracap regularly at the same time each day for best results.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Don’t take antacids within 2 hours of Itracap – if you take acid-suppressing medications, take Itracap with an acidic drink like cola.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Upset stomach, stomach pain or discomfort
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
- Unpleasant taste in mouth
- Shortness of breath, headache, dizziness
- Fever, confusion, cough, chills
- Changes in menstrual pattern
- Hair loss or thinning
- Erectile dysfunction
- Muscle weakness or pain, painful joints
- Tremors
- High or low blood pressure
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Tingling, numbness, or weakness in hands or feet
- Swelling of hands, ankles, feet, legs, or abdomen
- Shortness of breath, unexpected weight gain, unusual fatigue, or waking up at night
- Oversensitivity to sunlight
- Blurry or double vision, ringing in ears
- Loss of bladder control or urinating much more than usual
- Abnormal tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, pale stools, yellowing of skin or eyes
- Sudden allergic reactions (rash, itching, hives, swelling of face/lips/tongue, difficulty breathing)
- Severe skin disorders (widespread rashes with peeling skin and blisters)
- Any hearing loss symptoms (temporary or permanent hearing loss has been reported)
Important Warnings
Itracap has several important warnings and should not be used by certain people or with certain medications.
Who Should Not Take Itracap
Do not use Itracap if you’re allergic to itraconazole or any ingredients, have heart failure (congestive heart failure), are pregnant or may become pregnant, or are taking certain medications including terfenadine, astemizole, cisapride, domperidone, pimozide, simvastatin, midazolam oral, triazolam, ergot medications, and many others listed in the full prescribing information.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems, allergic reactions to other antifungal medicines, heart problems, low white blood cell counts, AIDS, organ transplant, hearing problems, nerve damage causing weakness or numbness in hands and feet, or cystic fibrosis.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not use Itracap if pregnant or planning pregnancy. If there’s any chance of pregnancy, discuss highly effective contraception with your doctor and continue contraception until your next period after finishing Itracap. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medicine. Discuss risks and benefits with your doctor if breastfeeding.
Liver Monitoring: If taking Itracap for more than 1 month, your doctor may check your blood regularly to ensure your liver isn’t affected.
Drug Interactions
Itracap interacts with many medications, some of which must never be taken together. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
Critical Timing: Wait at least 2 weeks after stopping Itracap before taking any of the prohibited medications listed in the warnings section.
- Allergy medications (terfenadine, astemizole, mizolastine)
- Heart medications (bepridil, felodipine, nisoldipine, lercanidipine, ranolazine, eplerenone, ivabradine)
- Blood thinners (apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, warfarin, edoxaban)
- Stomach medications (cisapride, domperidone)
- Pain medications (levomethadyl, methadone, fentanyl, alfentanil)
- Psychiatric medications (pimozide, lurasidone, sertindole, midazolam, triazolam)
- Cholesterol medications (simvastatin, lomitapide, lovastatin, atorvastatin)
- Heart rhythm medications (dronedarone, dofetilide, quinidine, disopyramide)
- Migraine medications (dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, eletriptan)
- Cancer medications (numerous including irinotecan, venetoclax, many others)
- HIV/AIDS medications (various protease inhibitors and other antivirals)
- Tuberculosis medications (rifampicin, rifabutin, isoniazid)
- Diabetes medications (repaglinide, saxagliptin)
- Seizure medications (phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine)
- Immunosuppressants (cyclosporin, tacrolimus, sirolimus)
- Stomach acid reducers (antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors)
Alcohol & Driving
Itracap may cause dizziness in some people, which can affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol interactions are mentioned in the prescribing information, but consult your doctor about alcohol use while taking Itracap.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Itracap affects you. If you experience dizziness or similar effects, avoid driving and using machines. Make sure you know how you react to Itracap before doing anything that could be dangerous if you’re dizzy or lightheaded.
Storage
Keep Itracap capsules in the original pack until it’s time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C (77°F). Don’t store in the bathroom or near a sink, and don’t leave in cars or on window sills as heat and dampness can destroy the medicine. Keep out of reach of children in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground.
Overdose Information
If you think you’ve taken too much Itracap, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre at 13 11 26, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if you don’t feel unwell or show signs of poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Don’t expect immediate improvement. With skin infections, marks typically disappear a few weeks after finishing treatment as new skin grows. For nail infections, it may take 6-9 months for marks to disappear because new nail needs to grow.
Yes, you must always take Itracap after a meal. This helps ensure proper absorption of the medication.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Take Itracap regularly at the same time each day.
Don’t take antacids or other stomach acid-neutralizing medicines within 2 hours of taking Itracap. If you take acid-suppressing medications, take your Itracap with an acidic drink like cola to help absorption.
No, Itracap is specially designed to give higher blood levels than other formulations. A 50mg Itracap capsule equals 100mg of other brands, but they are not interchangeable.
Call your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Itracap. This medication should not be used during pregnancy, and you should use highly effective contraception during treatment and until your next period after finishing the medication.
Be careful before driving until you know how Itracap affects you. The medication may cause dizziness in some people. If you experience dizziness or similar effects, avoid driving and using machines.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.