Itrasys 100: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also known as: Itrasys, Itrasys 100 capsule, Itrasys 100 mg, Itraconazole 100 mg, Itraconazole capsule
Itrasys 100 is a prescription capsule containing 100 mg of itraconazole, an antifungal medicine used for certain fungal infections of the nails and skin and some serious fungal infections inside the body. It must be taken only on a doctor's advice. It can worsen heart failure and interacts with many medicines, so tell your doctor about all your medicines and any heart problem.
- Active ingredient
- Itraconazole 100 mg
- Type of medicine
- Antifungals
- Used for
- Fungal infections, Fungal skin infections
- Starts working in
- Fungal infections of the skin and nails need weeks to months of treatment; it does not work overnight
- Effect lasts
- Itraconazole stays in the body for a long time, so the dose schedule is set by the doctor
- With or without food
- Capsules are usually taken straight after a full meal and swallowed whole; follow the pack or your doctor's advice
- Alcohol
- Ask your doctor; alcohol and itraconazole can both stress the liver
- Pregnancy
- Not for use in pregnancy for nail infections, and it can harm an unborn baby; tell your doctor if you are or may be pregnant
- Habit-forming
- No
- Made by
- VERIFY on pack
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
- What is Itrasys 100 used for?
- How does Itrasys 100 work?
- How to take Itrasys 100
- Side effects of Itrasys 100
- Who should be careful
- Medicines and things that interact with Itrasys 100
- If someone takes too much
- Storage
- Regulatory status in India
- Other brands with the same medicine
- Other strengths and forms
- Common questions
What is Itrasys 100 used for?
Itrasys 100 is a prescription medicine. It is used, on a doctor's advice, to treat certain fungal infections.
- Fungal infections of the nails (onychomycosis)
- Some fungal infections of the skin, when a doctor judges it suitable
- Certain serious fungal infections inside the body, treated under specialist care
How does Itrasys 100 work?
Itraconazole blocks the fungus from making ergosterol, a substance its outer membrane needs. The fungal cells then cannot grow properly, so the infection can clear. It works on fungi only.
What happens in your body after you take it
You swallow the capsule
The capsule is swallowed whole, straight after a full meal. Food helps the body absorb itraconazole.
It is absorbed and travels in the blood
Itraconazole is absorbed from the gut and carried in the blood, mostly attached to proteins. Less is absorbed when stomach acid is low, for example with antacids or acid-reducing medicines.
It collects in skin and nails
The medicine reaches the skin, nails and other tissues where the fungus lives, and stays there for a while after doses.
It blocks the fungal membrane
Itraconazole stops the fungus from making ergosterol, damaging its outer layer so it cannot grow.
The liver changes it
The liver breaks itraconazole down using enzymes that many other medicines also use, which is why it has so many interactions. Infected nail or skin is renewed slowly, so treatment takes weeks to months.
How to take Itrasys 100
Take Itrasys 100 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides the dose and how long you need it.
- Capsules are usually taken straight after a full meal and swallowed whole.
- Do not open, crush or chew the capsule. Do not switch between capsules and liquid, because the body takes them up differently.
- If you miss a dose, take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
- Fungal infections of the skin and nails need weeks to months. Do not stop early unless your doctor says so.
- Your doctor may ask for liver tests, especially for long treatment or if you have had liver problems.
Side effects of Itrasys 100
Many people take itraconazole without serious problems. Some side effects are common and mild, but some need urgent medical help.
Uncommon or mild
- Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or diarrhoea
- Headache
- Rash or itching
- Swelling of the ankles or feet (oedema)
- Dizziness
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Shortness of breath, swelling of the legs, a fast or irregular heartbeat or sudden tiredness (possible heart failure). Get medical help and tell your doctor immediately
- Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, severe tiredness or loss of appetite (possible liver problems)
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
- Hearing loss or changes in hearing
- Severe skin reaction, blistering or hives, or swelling of the face or throat. Get medical help immediately
Who should be careful
Itrasys 100 needs special care in some people. Check with a doctor before taking it.
When the label says not to use it
- Heart failure or a history of heart failure, when it is used for a nail infection
- Allergy to itraconazole or any ingredient of the capsule
- Taking certain medicines that are contraindicated with it (your doctor and pharmacist will check)
- Heart failure: itraconazole can reduce the heart's pumping strength. It should not be used for a nail infection in anyone with heart failure or a history of it, and the label advises stopping it and getting help if signs of heart failure appear
- Liver disease: serious liver problems have occurred, even in the first week; a doctor may check liver tests
- Low stomach acid or taking antacids or acid-reducing medicines: absorption of the capsule can fall
- Pregnancy: it can harm an unborn baby; women who could become pregnant need effective contraception during and after treatment as the doctor advises
- Breastfeeding: it passes into breast milk; ask your doctor
- Children: safety and benefit have not been established
- Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you take it
Medicines and things that interact with Itrasys 100
Itrasys 100 interacts with a very large number of medicines. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies.
- Medicines that must not be taken with it include some heart rhythm medicines (for example quinidine, dofetilide), methadone, pimozide, ergot medicines for migraine, and cholesterol medicines such as simvastatin and lovastatin; this is only a partial list
- Antacids, H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors: they lower itraconazole absorption from the capsule
- Some blood thinners, immune-suppressing medicines and cancer medicines: levels can change
- Other heart medicines such as felodipine: the risk of side effects rises
- Alcohol: ask your doctor, because both can stress the liver
If someone takes too much
Taking more than prescribed can cause serious heart and liver effects. Call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the medicine pack with you.
Storage
Store below 30 C in a dry place, protected from light and moisture, in the original pack, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India as a prescription antifungal capsule. Single-ingredient itraconazole does not appear in the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Itrasys 100 is understood to contain itraconazole only; check the ingredient list on the pack, since combination products are treated differently.
Other brands with the same medicine
Itraconazole capsules are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Some itraconazole products are made differently and are absorbed differently, so do not switch between them without asking your doctor or pharmacist.
Other strengths and forms
Itraconazole is also available in other strengths, as an oral liquid and in specially formulated capsules that are absorbed differently. The strength and contents are printed on the pack, so check the label of the one you have.
Common questions
Is Itrasys 100 a prescription medicine?
Yes. Itraconazole is a prescription medicine in India. It should be taken only if a doctor has prescribed it, and not started, stopped or changed without the doctor's advice, because of its effects on the heart and liver and its many interactions.
Why must Itrasys capsules be taken after a meal?
The body absorbs itraconazole capsules best straight after a full meal, and less on an empty stomach or with acid-reducing medicines. Swallow the capsule whole and follow the pack or your doctor's instructions.
Can people with heart problems take Itrasys 100?
Itraconazole can weaken the heart's pumping action. The label warns against use for nail infections in people with heart failure or a history of it. Tell your doctor about any heart problem, swollen ankles, breathlessness or heart medicine, and get help at once if these appear.
Can I take antacids or acid-reducing medicines with Itrasys 100?
They can lower how much itraconazole is absorbed from the capsule. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you take any of them, so the timing or treatment can be reviewed. Do not change anything on your own.
Can I take Itrasys 100 in pregnancy?
It can harm an unborn baby, and the label advises against it for nail infections in pregnancy or when planning one. Women who could become pregnant need effective contraception as the doctor advises. Tell your doctor if you are or may be pregnant.
How long will Itrasys 100 treatment take?
Your doctor decides the length. Skin and nail infections often need weeks to months because infected skin and nails renew slowly. Stopping early can let the infection return, so ask your doctor before changing anything.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Itrasys 100?
Ask your doctor. Itraconazole can affect the liver, and alcohol can add to that strain. Tell your doctor about any liver problem or heavy alcohol use.
What is the difference between Itrasys 100 and itraconazole 100 mg?
Itrasys is a brand name and itraconazole is the antifungal inside it. Generic itraconazole 100 mg capsules contain the same medicine, but some itraconazole products are absorbed differently, so check the pack and ask your doctor before switching.
Sources
- Sporanox (itraconazole) capsules: prescribing information (Janssen). DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine
- ATC/DDD Index: J02AC02 itraconazole. WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)