Does Ketoconazole Interact with Mefloquine Hydrochloride?
CDI records a contraindicated classification for Ketoconazole and Mefloquine Hydrochloride. The stored summary is: Should not be administered with mefloquine or within 15 weeks of last mefloquine dose due to risk of potentially fatal QTc interval prolongation. Increases mefloquine Cmax by 64% and AUC by 79%. The mechanism involves cyp3a4 inhibition; qtc interval prolongation. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Contraindicated
- Ketoconazole Class
- Azole Antifungal
- Management
- Do not take together
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
CYP3A4 inhibition; QTc interval prolongation
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Ketoconazole and your doctor is considering prescribing Mefloquine Hydrochloride (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask about alternative medications that do not interact with your current regimen
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider