Ketofung Composition, Use, Dose, Side Effect

Ketofung is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent. It comes in tablets and cream. In most cases, both are prescribed together for better and faster action. It is a product of Drugfield Pharmaceuticals Limited, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Ketofung cream

Description

Ketofung contains Ketoconazole, a synthetic broad-spectrum antifungal agent available as tablets and cream. Each tablet contains 200mg Ketoconazole, while 1gm of Cream contains 20mg Ketoconazole.

Ketoconazole is a synthetic imidazole with a fungicidal or fungistatic activity against dermatophytes, yeasts, dimorphic fungi and eumycetes. Less sensitive are: Aspergillus spp., Sporothrix, schenckii, some dematiaceous, Mucor spp. and other phycomycetes except entomophthorales.

Ketoconazole inhibits the biosynthesis of ergosterol in fungi and changes the composition of other lipid components in the membrane.

Indications Of Ketofung

Ketofung tablets is indicated in infections of the skin, hair and nails induced by dermatophytes and/or yeasts (dermatophytosis, onychomycosis, Candida perionyxis, pityriasis versicolor, pityriasis capitis, pityrosporum folliculitis, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis).

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-Yeast infection of the gastrointestinal tract.

-Chronic, recurrent vaginal candidiasis, provided this infection fails to respond to local therapy.

-Systemic fungal infections such as systemic candidiasis, paracoccidioidomycosis histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis.

-Prophylactic treatment of patients with decreased defense mechanisms (inherited, caused by illness or drugs), involving an increased risk of fungal infections.

Ketofung does not penetrate well in the CNS, therefore, fungal meningitis should not be treated with oral Ketoconazole.

Contraindications

Patients with acute or chronic liver disease or with a known hypersensitivity to the drug or its components should not be treated with Ketofung. Terfenadine, astemizole, cisapride, triazolam, oral midazolam, quinidine, and pimozide are contraindicated with Ketoconazole.

Warnings And Precautions

Decreased gastric acidity. Absorption is impaired when the gastric acidity is decreased in patients receiving acid neutralizing medicines (e.g. Aluminum Hydroxide), they should be administered at least 2 hours after the intake of Ketofung.

Liver function tests should accompany Ketofung treatment which last longer than 2 weeks; before treatment, after 2 weeks and later on monthly.

Pregnancy And Lactation

No studies are available on its use in pregnant women, therefore, Ketofung may not be administered during pregnancy, unless the potential advantage justifies the possible risk to the fetus. Since Ketofung is excreted in the milk, mothers who are under treatment should not breastfeed.

Dosage And Administration Of Ketofung

Tablet 

For maximum absorption, Ketofung tablets should be taken during meals.

Adults:

Skin, gastro-intestinal and systemic infections: One tablet (200mg) once daily with meals. If no adequate response is obtained, the dose should be increased to 2 tablets (400mg) once daily.

Vaginal candidiasis: Two tablets (400mg) once daily with meals.

Children:

Children weighing from 15 to 30kg: ½ tablet (100mg) once daily with meals.

Children weighing more than 30kg: Same as for adults.

The dosage scheme should be continued without any interruption until at least one week after all the symptoms have disappeared and until all cultures turn out to be negative.

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The usual duration of treatment is:

- Vaginal Candidiasis: 5 days

- Skin Mycoses induced by dermatophytes: 4 weeks

- Pityriasis versicolor: 10 days

- Oral and skin Mycosis induced by candida: 2-3 weeks

- Hair infection: 1-2 months

- Nail infection: 6-12 months

Cream 

Ketofung Cream should be applied to the affected area once daily in patients with Tinea corporis, Tinea cruris, Tinea manus, Tinea pedis, Cutaneous candidiasis and Tinea versicolor.

For seborrheic dermatitis, Ketofung cream should be applied to the affected area once or twice daily depending on the severity of the infection.

Treatment should be continued until a few days after disappearance of all symptoms.