Patient was educated on how to take Ketoconazole pill as follows:
- Take Ketoconazole pill with or without food along with a full 8 oz. glass of water. Taking the medication with food and water helps prevent any nauseating sensation.
- Evenly space out the doses of the antibiotic and take the dose at the scheduled time every day. Keeping to the schedule helps with maintaining a constant level of the antibiotic in the body, which is needed for infection control. Also, this helps to avoid forgetting the medication.
- Do not crush or chew the Ketoconazole pill. Swallow it whole. Breaking the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time, thus compromising the therapeutic effect of Ketoconazole.
- Maintain strict compliance with intake of Ketoconazole as ordered, with regards to dosage and frequency, to derive the benefit of the medication. The dose and length of treatment depends upon the medical condition, severity of infection, and response to treatment.
- Complete the course of the antibiotic that it was prescribed for. Do not give up on the antibiotic, against your doctor’s recommendation, even if the symptoms of infection are controlled.
- Noncompliance with Ketoconazole intake for the complete schedule can result in ineffective infection control with chance of relapse of infection with increased vigor. This can also contribute towards emergence of drug resistant strains of fungi, making infection control more difficult.
- Do not change the dose on Ketoconazole without consulting your doctor.
- In patients with GERD, taking Omeprazole, Ketoconazole can inhibit the metabolism of Omeprazole, thus elevating the blood levels of Omeprazole for a longer duration, causing increased nausea, vomiting, and flatulence. Space Ketoconazole out by at least 2 hours from taking Omeprazole to avoid this complication. Discuss with your doctor regarding other medications you take regularly and any possible interactions they can have with Ketoconazole.
- Space Ketoconazole out by at least 2 hours from taking antacids containing aluminum and magnesium. These products can slow down the absorption of Ketoconazole, thus compromising the therapeutic effect of the drug. Discuss with your doctor regarding other medications you take regularly and any possible interactions they can have with Ketoconazole.
- Watch out for any continuing or worsening signs and symptoms of infection, to report to your doctor immediately, so that, a change in plan could be considered.
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.
