Antifungal drug interactions. Avoidance requires more than memorization
Brodell, R.T.; Elewski, B.
Postgraduate Medicine 107(1): 41-43
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0032-5481 PMID: 10649662 Document Number: 512698
A case is reported in a 62-year-old woman from Ohio, USA , who saw her primary care physician for evaluation of toenails that had thickened and were tender on ambulation. After a culture yielded Trichophyton rubrum, 400 mg of oral itraconazole per day was prescribed, and several week-long pulses of therapy over 3 to 4 months were anticipated. On the third day of this therapy, nausea, anorexia and lethargy developed. These symptoms improved within 48 h after the itraconazole was discontinued. The patient felt that the treatment was "worse than the disease" and decided to live with the toenail problem. She presented for a second opinion because of continued tenderness of her toenails. Examination revealed subungual hyperkeratosis, yellowing and thickening in all 10 toenails. Her medical history was significant for heart failure, and her maintenance medications were digoxin and furosemide. It was felt that her symptoms of nausea and anorexia were due to interaction between itraconazole and digoxin, resulting in digoxin toxicity. Terbinafine hydrochloride was prescribed (250 mg once a day for 3 months), with no adverse side effects. All symptoms, including the onychomycosis, resolved completely.