Proper Use of This Medicine

Keep this medicine away from the eyes .

For patients using the cream form of this medicine:

• Apply enough ketoconazole cream to cover the affected and surrounding skin areas, and rub in gently.
• To help clear up your infection completely, it is very important that you keep using ketoconazole cream for the full time of treatment , even if your symptoms begin to clear up after a few days. Since fungus or yeast infections may be very slow to clear up, you may have to continue using this medicine every day for up to several weeks. If you stop using this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return. Do not miss any doses .

For patients using the 1% shampoo form of this medicine:

• Wet your hair and scalp well with water.
• Apply enough shampoo to work up a good lather and gently massage it over your entire scalp.
• Rinse your hair and scalp with warm water.
• Repeat application.
• Rinse your hair and scalp well with warm water, and dry your hair.

For patients using the 2% shampoo form of this medicine:

• Wet your hair and scalp well with water.
• Apply the shampoo to the skin of the affected area and a wide margin surrounding this area.
• Work up a good lather and leave it in place for 5 minutes.
• Rinse your hair and scalp well with warm water, and dry your hair.

Dosing—The dose of topical ketoconazole will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of topical ketoconazole. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of doses you use each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you use the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using topical ketoconazole .

• For cream dosage form:
  • For cutaneous candidiasis, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, tinea pedis, or pityriasis versicolor:
    • Adults—Apply once a day to the affected skin and surrounding area.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For seborrheic dermatitis:
    • Adults—Apply two times a day to the affected skin and surrounding area.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For 1% shampoo dosage form:
  • For dandruff:
    • Adults—Use every 3 or 4 days for up to 8 weeks. Then use only as needed to keep dandruff under control.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For 2% shampoo dosage form:
  • For pityriasis versicolor:
    • Adults—Use once.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Keep the medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.