How Long Do You Use Ketoconazole?

Ketoconazole is a treatment for fungal infections, and the duration of treatment depends on the type of infection, as well as its severity. Only a licensed health care provider is qualified to make this determination.

Identification

• According to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine, ketoconazole is an imidazole antifungal. It is a treatment for a wide variety of fungal infections such as urinary tract, skin or yeast infections. It inhibits the growth of the fungi responsible for causing the infection.

Time Frame

• The length of time ketoconazole should be taken varies considerably based on the condition for which it is prescribed. According to Drugs.com, certain infections such as oral thrush require only one to two weeks of treatment. For onychomycosis -- toenail or fingernail fungus -- 6 to 12 months of treatment may be necessary. For dermatophytosis, ringworm, four weeks is the average duration of treatment. The doctor will examine patients on an individual basis to determine the appropriate length of treatment. Even if she feels better, a patient should never stop the medication without consulting a doctor. To do so may cause the infection to recur quickly recur.

Warning

• Ketoconazole is classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a pregnancy category C medication. This means sufficient data is not available to determine if it is harmful to an unborn baby. A woman who is pregnant or breast-feeding should alert her doctor before using ketoconazole. In addition, as of October 2010, the effects of a ketoconazole overdose are not yet known. If someone suspects he may have overdosed, prompt medical attention should be sought.