Itraconazole-Associated Gastritis

Introduction to Adverse Effects

• The European Respiratory Society guidelines list gastritis as a known adverse event associated with conventional itraconazole capsules, alongside other side effects such as headache, nausea, vomiting, liver toxicity, pedal edema, and heart failure, representing the highest quality guideline evidence available on this question 1, 2

Formulation-Specific Adverse Effects

• The oral suspension formulation of itraconazole is associated with higher gastrointestinal adverse effects compared to capsules, particularly problematic in populations who already experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, despite having better absorption characteristics than capsules 3
• The conventional capsule formulation requires low gastric pH for dissolution and should be administered with meals to improve absorption, while the super bioavailable capsule formulation should be given on an empty stomach 1, 2