✅ Checklist for Taking Itraconazole the First Time

💊 1. Know Your Form: Capsule vs Liquid

  • Capsules:

    • Must be taken with a full meal (ideally high-fat) to help absorption

    • Avoid taking with antacids, PPIs, or H2 blockers (like omeprazole, ranitidine)

  • Liquid (solution):

    • Must be taken on an empty stomach

    • Better absorption than capsules—but tastes unpleasant to some

👉 Make sure you know which form you’re on and follow the correct instructions. If unsure, ask your pharmacist.

🕒 2. Stick to a Routine

  • Take it at the same time every day

  • Don’t skip doses

  • If you miss one and it’s within a few hours—take it. If it’s close to the next dose, skip it—don’t double up.

🥗 3. Food and Drug Interactions

  • Avoid grapefruit juice – it can increase side effects

  • Avoid alcohol – adds to liver strain

  • Tell your doctor/pharmacist if you take:

    • Statins

    • Calcium channel blockers

    • Steroids

    • Blood thinners (e.g., warfarin)

    • Drugs that reduce stomach acid

🩺 4. Baseline & Follow-Up Tests

  • Before or soon after starting, you should have:

    • Liver function tests (LFTs)

    • Kidney function tests

    • Itraconazole blood levels (usually after 1–2 weeks if long-term treatment)

    • ECG if there’s any heart history (due to rare risk of heart problems)

✅ Ask your doctor to schedule a check-up in 2–4 weeks to make sure the drug level is therapeutic and safe.

📋 5. Watch for Side Effects

Common but usually mild:

  • Nausea

  • Diarrhea

  • Headache

  • Rash

More serious (call your doctor if these occur):

  • Upper right abdominal pain, yellowing of the eyes/skin (⚠️ possible liver injury)

  • Shortness of breath, ankle swelling (⚠️ possible heart effects)

  • Tingling or numbness (⚠️ rare nerve effects)

  • Fatigue, dizziness, or mood changes

💡 6. Stay Hydrated and Track Symptoms

  • Keep a daily symptom diary (breathlessness, fatigue, cough, rash, mood, etc.)

  • Stay hydrated, eat well, and let your team know if anything feels “off”

💬 Want a Tip?

You can ask for a medication review a couple weeks after starting—especially if you’re on other long-term meds. That’s often when interactions or early side effects show up.

Keep your prescribing doctor informed of any new symptoms, and don’t forget your pharmacist is a great source of good advice about any drug you are taking and how they may interact with each other.

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