Get your patient on Ketoconazole - Ketoconazole shampoo (Ketoconazole)

Ketoconazole shampoo, 2% is indicated for the treatment of tinea (pityriasis) versicolor caused by or presumed to be caused by Pityrosporum orbiculare (also known as Malassezia furfur or M. orbiculare ).

Note: Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor may give rise to hyperpigmented or hypopigmented patches on the trunk which may extend to the neck, arms and upper thighs. Treatment of the infection may not immediately result in normalization of pigment to the affected sites. Normalization of pigment following successful therapy is variable and may take months, depending on individual skin type and incidental sun exposure. Although tinea versicolor is not contagious, it may recur because the organism that causes the disease is part of the normal skin flora.

Apply the shampoo to the damp skin of the affected area and a wide margin surrounding this area. Lather, leave in place for 5 minutes and then rinse off with water.

One application of the shampoo should be sufficient.

Ketoconazole shampoo, 2% is contraindicated in persons who have known hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or excipients of this formulation.

Clinical Trials Experience

In 11 double-blind trials in 264 patients using ketoconazole shampoo, 2% for the treatment of dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, an increase in normal hair loss and irritation occurred in less than 1% of patients. In three open-label safety trials in which 41 patients shampooed 4 times to 10 times weekly for six months, the following adverse experiences each occurred once: abnormal hair texture, scalp pustules, mild dryness of the skin and itching. As with other shampoos, oiliness and dryness of hair and scalp have been reported. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which patients with tinea versicolor were treated with either a single application of ketoconazole shampoo, 2% (n=106), a daily application for three consecutive days (n=107) or placebo (n=105), drug-related adverse events occurred in 5 (5%), 7 (7%) and 4 (4%) of patients, respectively. The only events that occurred in more than one patient in any one of the three treatment groups were pruritus, application site reaction and dry skin; none of these events occurred in more than 3% of the patients in any one of the three groups.

Post-marketing Experience

Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency. The following adverse drug reactions have been identified during post-marketing experience with ketoconazole shampoo, 2%: there have been reports of hair discoloration and abnormal hair texture, itching, skin burning sensation, contact dermatitis, hypersensitivity, angioedema, alopecia, rash, urticaria, skin irritation, dry skin and application site reactions.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Viona Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-888-304-5011 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

For Topical Application Only

Ketoconazole shampoo, 2% is a red-orange liquid for topical application, containing the broad spectrum synthetic antifungal agent ketoconazole in a concentration of 2% in an aqueous suspension. It also contains: cocodiethanolamide, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, FD&C red no. 40, hydrochloric acid, imidurea, laurdimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed animal collagen, PEG-120 methyl glucose dioleate, purified water, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and sodium lauryl ether sulfate.

Ketoconazole is cis -1-acetyl-4-[4-[[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1 H -imidazol-1- ylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]methoxy]phenyl]piperazine and has the following structural formula:

Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor is a non-contagious infection of the skin caused by Pityrosporum orbiculare (Malassezia furfur ). This commensal organism is part of the normal skin flora. In susceptible individuals the condition is often recurrent and may give rise to hyperpigmented or hypopigmented patches on the trunk which may extend to the neck, arms and upper thighs. Treatment of the infection may not immediately result in restoration of pigment to the affected sites. Normalization of pigment following successful therapy is variable and may take months, depending on individual skin type and incidental skin exposure. The rate of recurrence of infection is variable.

Ketoconazole was not detected in plasma in 39 patients who shampooed 4 times to 10 times per week for 6 months or in 33 patients who shampooed 2 times to 3 times per week for 3 months to 26 months (mean: 16 months).

An exaggerated use washing test on the sensitive antecubital skin of 10 subjects twice daily for five consecutive days showed that the irritancy potential of ketoconazole shampoo, 2% was significantly less than that of 2.5% selenium sulfide shampoo.

A human sensitization test, a phototoxicity study and a photoallergy study conducted in 38 male and 22 female volunteers showed no contact sensitization of the delayed hypersensitivity type, no phototoxicity and no photoallergenic potential due to ketoconazole shampoo, 2%.

Mode of Action

Interpretations of in vivo studies suggest that ketoconazole impairs the synthesis of ergosterol, which is a vital component of fungal cell membranes. It is postulated, but not proven, that the therapeutic effect of ketoconazole in tinea (pityriasis) versicolor is due to the reduction of Pityrosporum orbiculare ( Malassezia furfur ) and that the therapeutic effect in dandruff is due to the reduction of Pityrosporum ovale . Support for the therapeutic effect in tinea versicolor comes from a three-arm, parallel, double-blind, placebo controlled study in patients who had moderately severe tinea (pityriasis) versicolor. Successful response rates in the primary efficacy population for each of both three-day and single-day regimens of ketoconazole shampoo, 2% were statistically significantly greater (73% and 69%, respectively) than a placebo regimen (5%). There had been mycological confirmation of fungal disease in all cases at baseline. Mycological clearing rates were 84% and 78%, respectively, for the three-day and one-day regimens of the 2% shampoo and 11% in the placebo regimen. While the differences in the rates of successful response between either of the two active treatments and placebo were statistically significant, the difference between the two active regimens was not.

Microbiology

Ketoconazole is a broad spectrum synthetic antifungal agent which inhibits the growth of the following common dermatophytes and yeasts by altering the permeability of the cell membrane: dermatophytes: Trichophyton rubrum , T. mentagrophytes , T. tonsurans , Microsporum canis , M. audouini , M. gypseum and Epidermophyton floccosum ; yeasts: Candida albicans , C. tropicalis , Pityrosporum ovale ( Malassezia ovale ) and Pityrosporum orbiculare ( M. furfur ). Development of resistance by these microorganisms to ketoconazole has not been reported.

Ketoconazole shampoo, 2% is a red-orange liquid supplied in a 4-fluid ounce (120 mL) nonbreakable plastic bottle (NDC 72578-156-12).

Storage conditions

Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Protect from light.