Griseofulvin

Description

Griseofulvin is an antifungal medicine used to treat fungal infections of your skin, scalp, nails, feet, groin and other parts of your body. It works by stopping the growth of certain fungi responsible for fungal infections. This medicine is not used for other infections caused by bacteria or virus. Griseofulvin can cause side effects like mouth sore, diarrhoea, headache, sore throat etc. These side effects usually go after some time. Consult your doctor if your side effects are bothering you. This medicine can cause dizziness, so avoid activities like driving vehicles that require mental focus. Griseofulvin is taken with food as prescribed by your doctor. The therapeutic effects are better if you take this medicine with fatty food. Your dose will be decided according to your condition. Take this medicine at the same time every day for the ease of remembering it. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting with your doctor first as your symptoms can reoccur. Griseofulvin is not recommended if you are allergic to it or have severe liver problems. Inform your doctor about your pre-existing conditions as your dose can be adjusted according to them. Report all your medicines to your doctor, as they can interact with each other and cause side effects. Griseofulvin can cause a severe skin reaction and sensitivity to sunlight. Consult your doctor if you develop skin reactions like rashes, bruising etc. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before using this medicine.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Griseofulvin

  • Skin rash and peeling
  • Mouth sores
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Diarrhoea
  • Increased thirst
  • Dizziness and fainting
  • Unusual tiredness and weakness
  • Black or Tarry stools
  • Cloudy urine
  • Chest pain and discomfort
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Nausea or Vomiting

Uses of Griseofulvin

What is it prescribed for?

  • Fungal infections (Tinea strains)
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The effect of Griseofulvin can be observed within 4-5 hours of taking it.
  • Duration of effect
    The effect of Griseofulvin lasts for an average duration of 10-20 hours.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Avoid or minimize the use of alcohol while taking Griseofulvin as it may cause excessive drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and headaches.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit forming tendencies were reported for Griseofulvin.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    Griseofulvin is suspected to cause major birth defects when taken during pregnancy. Therefore this medicine is not prescribed for pregnant women. Your doctor will give you another suitable medicine with similar therapeutic effects.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    Griseofulvin is not recommended for use if you are breastfeeding as it is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk or not. Consult with your doctor first before using it.

Allergy

Griseofulvin is not recommended for use if you have an allergy to it. Taking this medicine in such cases could lead to redness, swelling (anywhere in your body), hives (itchy, painful eruptions that sting), breathing difficulty etc.

Porphyria

Porphyria is a group of disorders caused by an over-accumulation of porphyrin (pigment). It helps in the formation of haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in the blood. Griseofulvin is not recommended for use if you have this hereditary disease of the blood and skin.

Impaired Liver function

Griseofulvin is not recommended for use if you have severe liver damage as an affected liver will not metabolize this medicine properly, leading to toxic accumulation of unused medicine in your blood.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

Griseofulvin is suspected to cause major birth defects when taken during pregnancy. Therefore this medicine is not prescribed for pregnant women. Your doctor will give you another suitable medicine with similar therapeutic effects.

Breast-feeding

Griseofulvin is not recommended for use if you are breastfeeding as it is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk or not. Consult with your doctor first before using it.
General warnings

Fatty food

The absorption of Griseofulvin is reported to be higher when taken along or after a fatty meal. Your doctor may ask to take this medicine with a fatty meal to increase the absorption and further effect of this medicine.

Sever skin allergic reaction

Griseofulvin has been associated with severe skin allergic reactions like Steven Johnson's syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (your skin develops rashes, blisters, and then peel) etc. It is advised to stop the use of this medicine immediately if an allergic reaction is suspected.

Stomach disorder

Griseofulvin has been associated with liver problems, especially in children. Stop the use of this medicine and contact your doctor if you have pain and tenderness in the upper stomach, dark urine, pale and cloudy stools, yellow eyes or skin.

Contraception failure

Griseofulvin may make the hormonal contraceptive less effective and may result in unintended pregnancies. Other means of birth control should be adopted during and one month after the use of this medicine.

Drowsiness and dizziness

Griseofulvin may cause drowsiness and dizziness in some rare cases. It is advised to refrain from driving vehicles and operating heavy machines at least in the initial part of treatment with this medicine.

Light sensitivity

Griseofulvin may make you sensitive to sunlight and may cause allergic reactions to sun exposure. It is advised to take appropriate precautions while stepping out during the daytime when you are taking this medicine.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose of Griseofulvin as soon as you remember. The missed dose can be skipped if the next scheduled dose is less than two hours away.

Overdose

Contact your doctor immediately if an overdose of Griseofulvin is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Consumption of alcohol while taking this medicine may cause some severe side effects like an increase in heart rate, flushing, excessive sweating, redness of the face.

Instructions

Avoid or minimize the use of alcohol while taking Griseofulvin as it may cause excessive drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and headaches.
Interaction with Medicine

Ketoconazole

Warfarin

Ethinyl Estradiol

Atorvastatin

Sildenafil

Disease interactions

Disease

Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Griseofulvin as prescribed by the doctor. Drink plenty of water with it to avoid stomach discomfort. Do not crush, break or chew this tablet. Griseofulvin should be taken for the entire prescribed duration even when the symptoms resolve. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller quantities than prescribed. Keep this medicine away from children and pets. Griseofulvin can cause dizziness, therefore stand up slowly from a sitting position to avoid feeling dizzy. Avoid consuming alcohol as it can worsen your dizziness. Consult your doctor if your condition does not improve after few days of taking this medicine.
Miscelleneous

To be taken with food

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
Griseofulvin works by interfering with major processes in the cell of the microorganism and stops their growth. It binds to a human skin cell component called keratin and fights fungal infections.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Unknown

Classification

Category

Miscellaneous antifungals

Schedule

Schedule H

Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - GRISEOFULVIN tablet. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 September 2021].

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=6149c044-58bb-402c-a4b5-18b96dd9b3b9>

Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Griseofulvin. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 September 2021].

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/441140#section=Top>

Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Griseofulvin 500mg Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 September 2021].

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/10746/smpc>

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Information on this page was last updated on 13 Oct 2021

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.