RN mom of a 15 month old called yesterday, and has a severe toenail fungal
infection. MD feels she needs to take Itraconazole 200 mg once a day for
three months to get infection cleared up. Dr. Hale recommends Fluconazole
instead, but MD wants to use the Itraconazole. Dr. Hale feels that
Itraconazole requires an acidic milieu for absorption and that since it
would enter the baby in a milk base that it would be highly unlikely to
absorb. Mom wants to continue to nurse her baby twice a day, and is worried
about the studies showing significant bone defects in newborn animals. Does
anyone have any experience with this medication?
Ann Calandro,RNC,IBCLC