Ketoconazole

ketoconazole
IUPAC name: see chemistry section Synonyms: many, see below Formula: C26H28Cl2N4O4
Uses:	antifungal drug
Properties:	azole compound
Hazards:	see side effects & drug interactions
Mass (g/mol): CAS #: 531.43 79156-75-5

Ketoconazole is one of the azole-based antifungal drugs used to treat fungal infections. Its use has greatly diminished because of the introduction of better treatment alternatives, including the triazoles fluconazole and itraconazole. It is based on imidazole as are clotrimazole, fluconazole, itraconazole and miconazole. It is a second-line of defense systemic drug used to treat candidiasis, candiduria, oral thrush, mucocutaneious candidiasis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, chromomycosis and paracocccidioidomycosis. Typical fungal infections like athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm can be treated with ketoconazole. Side effects associated with erectile dysfunction and steroid synthesis broaden the usages of this drug. Fungal meningitis should not be treated with ketoconazole because it does not localize into the cerebral spinal fluid well.

Mechanism of action

Azole-based antifungal agents, such as ketoconazole, work by inhibiting the enzyme cytochrome P450 14-$\alpha$-demethylase (P45014DM), which is part of the sterol biosynthesis pathway that converts lanosterol to ergosterol. Because ketoconazole has less affinity towards fungal cell membranes than the newer triazole antifungal agents like fluconazole and itraconazole, it is more likely to bind with mammalian cell membranes and induce toxicity.

Side effects

Because ketoconazole disrupts part of the sterol biosynthesis pathway, it may decrease levels of the steroids testosterone and cortisone causing gynecomastia and oligospermia in males and irregular menstruation in women. It may also cause anorexia, nausea and vomiting, increased levels of transaminase and liver toxicity.

Chemistry

The IUPAC chemical name for ketoconazole is 1-[4-[4-[[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]methoxy]phenyl]piperazin-1-yl]ethanone. It has chemical formula C₂₆H₂₈C_l2N₄O₄, a molecular mass of 531.4309 g/mol and is registered under CAS Number 79156-75-5. The activity of the drug is based on the presence of imidazole, an azole. Ketoconazole also contains a piperazine ring system and is an antiandrogen compound.

Drug interactions

Ketoconazole can have many drug interactions, including interacting with medicines or natural compounds related to diabetes, cardiac disease, psychological diseases, antiviral drugs, erectile dysfunction, vascular disease, steroid-related diseases, migraine headaches, sleep disorders and others. See the following sections for specific interactions and conditions with increased risk factors.

Drugs enhanced by ketoconazole

Ketoconazole increases the effectiveness, and therefore toxicity of many medications. It increases the effectiveness of some anticoagualant medications, including acenocoumarol, anisindione, dicumarol and warfarin and the effectiveness and toxicity of some steroids and steroid agonists, including the corticosteroids methylprednisolone, prednisolone and prednisone, the glucocorticoids budesonide and ciclesonide and the aldosterone agonist eplerenone. It also increase the effects of some antiviral drugs, including indinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir. Many benzodiazepine-based drugs, including alazepam, alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, clorazepate, diazepam, estazolam, flurazepam, midazolam, quazepam and triazolam are more effective when taken with ketoconazole. The immunosuppressants cyclosporine, everolimus, sirolimus and tacrolimus, and the tricyclic drugs amitriptyline, imipramine and nortriptyline, are enhanced when taken with ketoconazole. Because ketoconazole is a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor, it increases the effects and toxicity of almotriptan, aprepitant, dofetilide, eletriptan, erlotinib, gefitinib, trazodone, and also slows the metabolism of darifenacin and solifenacin. Drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction, like sildenafil (Viagra®, Revatio®), tadalafil (Cialis®) and vardenafil (Levitra®), and drugs used to treat diabetes, such as pioglitazone, rosiglitazone and tolbutamide have increased effects when taken with ketoconazole. The psycholeptic drugs aripiprazole, buspirone, galantamine, haloperidol, quetiapine and ziprasidone are likewise more effective. Ketoconazole also increases the levels of antineoplastic agents (antitumor drugs) including imatinib, vinblastine, vincristine, docetaxel, irinotecan the cardiac or vascular drugs bosentan, cilostazol, quinidine and ranolazine, and analgesics including fentanyl and alfentanil. The following may also be increased: carbamazepine, cinacalcet, ramelteon, quinidine, tolterodine, valdecoxib, sibutramine, sunitinib, and alfuzosin.

Drugs suppressed by ketoconazole

Some oral contraceptives, including ethinyl estradiol and mestranol may be less effective when taken in combination with ketoconazole.

Conditions with increased risks

The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased when ketoconazole is taken with some cholesterol-lowering statin drugs such as atorvastatin, cerivastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin. The risk of arrhythmias and cardiotoxicity increase when this drug is taken with astemizole, cisapride, terfenadine, pimozide. An increased risk of ergotism and severe ischemia may result when ketoconazole is taken with ergotamine and its derivate dihydroergotamine.

Drugs that impede ketoconazole

Antacids, including basic forms of aluminium, bismuth, calcium and magnesium, as well as the proton pump inhibitors esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole and rabeprazole decrease the absorption of imidazole and hence make ketoconazole less effective. Likewise, the anti-H2 drugs cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine and ranitidine suppress ketoconazole absorption. Additional medications with this side effect include isoniazid, nevirapine, rifampin and sucralfate.

Synonyms

• (+-)-cis-1-acetyl-4-(p-((2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methoxy)phenyl)piperazine

79156-75-5 CPD-4503 fungarest fungoral ketoconazol ketoconazole ketoderm

ketoisdin KW 1414 NCI60_002728 nizoral NSC317629 orifungal M panfungol

Brand names

Extina® Fungarest® Fungoral® Ketocanazole® Ketoconazol® Ketoconazol® Ketoconazole® Ketoconazolum® Ketoderm® Ketoisdin®

Ketozole® Nizoral® Nizoral Cream® Nizoral Shampoo® Nizoral® A-D Nizoral® A-D Shampoo Orifungal® Orifungal M® Panfungol®

Primary Sources

• Doctorfungus [1]
• The most up-to-date information about Ketoconazole and other drugs can be found at the following sites.
• Ketoconazole - FDA approved drug information (drug label) from DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Ketoconazole - Drug information for consumers from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Ketoconazole - Detailed information from DrugBank.