Can you take Chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic with Ketoconazole?
1 drug interaction and 9 additional warnings found for the following 2 drugs:
- chloramphenicol/hydrocortisone/polymyxin b ophthalmic
- ketoconazole
Drug interactions
Moderate drug interactions
Moderate:
ketoconazole hydrocortisone ophthalmic
Applies to: ketoconazole and chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic
Ketoconazole may increase the blood levels of hydrocortisone ophthalmic. You may be more likely to experience side effects such as swelling, weight gain, high blood pressure, high blood glucose, muscle weakness, depression, acne, thinning skin, stretch marks, easy bruising, bone density loss, cataracts, menstrual irregularities, excessive growth of facial or body hair, and abnormal distribution of body fat, especially in the face, neck, back, and waist. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. Other side effects that may occur include decreased ability to fight infections, increased risk of developing infections, and inadequate response to stress such as infection, surgery, trauma, or a severe asthma attack. Children may experience a reduced growth rate due to excessive effects of hydrocortisone ophthalmic. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.
Food/lifestyle interactions
Moderate food/lifestyle interactions
Moderate:
ketoconazole Food/Lifestyle
Applies to: ketoconazole
You should avoid the use of alcohol while being treated with ketoconazole. Ketoconazole may cause liver damage and using it with alcohol or products containing alcohol may increase that risk. In addition, consumption of alcoholic beverages or products containing alcohol during treatment with ketoconazole may trigger a disulfiram-like reaction in some patients, with unpleasant symptoms such as flushing, palpitations, and nausea. Ketoconazole may be taken with or without food. You should avoid consumption of grapefruit, grapefruit juice, or any supplements that contain grapefruit extract during treatment with ketoconazole unless directed otherwise by your doctor. Grapefruit juice may increase the blood levels of ketoconazole. This may increase the risk and/or severity of side effects and liver problems. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop signs and symptoms of liver damage during treatment with ketoconazole, such as joint pain or swelling, unusual bleeding or bruising, skin rash, itching, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dark colored urine, light colored stools, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.
Disease interactions
8 potential interactions Applies to: 8 conditions, including Arrhythmia, Eye Conditions, Cataract, Adrenal Insufficiency, and Liver Disease.
Achlorhydria
Moderate:
ketoconazole
Ketoconazole has a moderate potential interaction with Achlorhydria.
Nizoral (brand of ketoconazole) tablets require acidity for proper dissolution and absorption. Therefore, the drug may not be effective in patients with achlorhydria. Taking the medication with an acidic beverage such as orange or cranberry juice may help, but an alternative antifungal agent should be considered.
Adrenal Insufficiency
Moderate:
ketoconazole
Ketoconazole has a moderate potential interaction with Adrenal Insufficiency.
Ketoconazole tablets decrease adrenal corticosteroid secretion at doses of 400 mg and higher. Adrenal function should be monitored in patients with adrenal insufficiency or with borderline adrenal function and in patients with prolonged periods of stress due to major surgery, intensive care, etc.
Arrhythmia
Moderate:
ketoconazole
Ketoconazole has a moderate potential interaction with Arrhythmia.
Some azole antifungals have been associated with prolongation of the QT interval on the ECG. Rare cases of QT prolongation and torsade de pointes have been reported during postmarketing experience; such reports usually involved seriously ill patients with multiple confounding risk factors, such as structural heart disease, electrolyte abnormalities, and concomitant medications. These drugs should be administered with caution to patients with potentially proarrhythmic conditions, such as congenital/acquired QT prolongation, cardiomyopathy (especially when heart failure is present), sinus bradycardia, and existing symptomatic arrhythmias. Concomitant use with other medications that have potential to increase the risk of cardiotoxicity should be avoided.
Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts
Major:
chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic
The chloramphenicol ophthalmic in chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic has a major potential interaction with Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts.
Chloramphenicol may cause bone marrow depression and other hematologic toxicities, which can be irreversible or reversible. The former type is independent of dose and results in aplastic anemia with a high rate of mortality, generally from hemorrhage or infection. It has been reported following both systemic and topical administration of chloramphenicol and has an estimated incidence of 1 in 25,000 to 1 in 40,000 courses of therapy. Bone marrow aplasia or hypoplasia may occur after a single dose but more often develops weeks or months after the drug has been discontinued. A reversible myelosuppression occurs much more frequently and is characterized by anemia, vacuolation of red blood cells, decreased reticulocyte count, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, increased serum iron concentrations, and increased serum iron-binding capacity. It is dose-dependent, occurring regularly at chloramphenicol dosages exceeding 4 g/day (in adults) or at plasma drug concentrations >= 25 mcg/mL, and usually responds to withdrawal of the drug. Therapy with chloramphenicol should be administered cautiously, if at all, in patients with preexisting blood dyscrasias and/or bone marrow depression. Complete blood counts and differential reticulocyte counts should be performed in all patients prior to initiating therapy and approximately every 2 days during therapy. Marked depression of blood counts and/or development of other hematologic abnormalities may be indication for withdrawal of chloramphenicol therapy.
Cataract
Major:
chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic
The hydrocortisone ophthalmic in chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic has a major potential interaction with Cataract.
Prolonged use of corticosteroids may cause posterior subcapsular cataracts and elevated intraocular pressure, the latter of which may lead to glaucoma and/or damage to the optic nerves. Therapy with ophthalmic corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in patients with a history of cataracts, glaucoma, or increased intraocular pressure. If these agents are used for more than 10 days, the manufacturers recommend that intraocular pressure be routinely monitored, including in children. The equatorial and posterior subcapsular portions of the lens should be examined for changes.
Eye Conditions
Major:
chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic
The hydrocortisone ophthalmic in chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic has a major potential interaction with Eye Conditions.
The use of ophthalmic corticosteroids is contraindicated in most viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva, including epithelial herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis), vaccinia, and varicella; fungal diseases of ocular structures; mycobacterial infections, including tuberculosis, of the eye; and any acute, purulent, untreated ocular infections. Corticosteroids may decrease host resistance to infectious agents, thus prolonging the course and/or exacerbating the severity of the infection while encouraging the development of new or secondary infection. In addition, administration of ophthalmic corticosteroids in severe ocular disease, especially acute herpes simplex keratitis, may lead to excessive corneal and scleral thinning, increasing the risk for perforation. In less serious ocular infections, therapy with ophthalmic corticosteroids may be administered but only with caution and accompanied by appropriate antimicrobial agents. Besides compromising host immune response, corticosteroids may also mask the symptoms of infection, thus hindering the recognition of potential ineffectiveness of the antibiotic therapy. If infection does not improve or becomes worse during administration of an ophthalmic corticosteroid, the drug should be discontinued and other appropriate therapy initiated.
Glaucoma/Intraocular Hypertension
Major:
chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic
The hydrocortisone ophthalmic in chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic has a major potential interaction with Glaucoma/Intraocular Hypertension.
Prolonged use of corticosteroids may cause posterior subcapsular cataracts and elevated intraocular pressure, the latter of which may lead to glaucoma and/or damage to the optic nerves. Therapy with ophthalmic corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in patients with a history of cataracts, glaucoma, or increased intraocular pressure. If these agents are used for more than 10 days, the manufacturers recommend that intraocular pressure be routinely monitored, including in children. The equatorial and posterior subcapsular portions of the lens should be examined for changes.
Liver Disease
Major:
ketoconazole
Ketoconazole has a major potential interaction with Liver Disease.
Serious hepatotoxicity including cases with a fatal outcome or requiring liver transplant have been reported. Some patients had no obvious risk factors for liver disease. Liver function tests should be performed prior to initiation of therapy and regularly during treatment in patients receiving prolonged therapy with ketoconazole, particularly those with a current or past history of liver disease. Therapy should be withdrawn if persistent elevations or worsening of liver enzyme levels occur, or if the abnormalities are accompanied by symptoms of possible liver injury. Since ketoconazole is primarily metabolized by the liver, empirically reducing the dosage may also be appropriate in patients with existing liver disease. The use of oral ketoconazole tablets is contraindicated in patients with acute or chronic liver disease.
More resources
chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic
A total of 401 drugs are known to interact with chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic.
- Chloramphenicol / hydrocortisone / polymyxin b ophthalmic is in the drug class ophthalmic steroids with anti-infectives.
ketoconazole
A total of 900 drugs are known to interact with ketoconazole.
- Ketoconazole is in the drug class azole antifungals.
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Ketoconazole is used to treat the following conditions:
- Blastomycosis
- Chromomycosis
- Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis (off-label)
- Coccidioidomycosis
- Dermatophytosis (off-label)
- Esophageal Candidiasis (off-label)
- Histoplasmosis
- Onychomycosis, Fingernail (off-label)
- Onychomycosis, Toenail (off-label)
- Oral Thrush (off-label)
- Paracoccidioidomycosis
- Tinea Corporis (off-label)
- Tinea Versicolor (off-label)
- Vaginal Yeast Infection (off-label)
Drug Interaction Classification
| Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit. | |
| Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances. | |
| Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan. | |
| No interaction information available. |
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.