The drug griseofulvin is used to treat fungal infections of the scalp, fingernails, and toenails as well as skin infections such jock itch, athlete’s foot, and ringworm.

You should speak with your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you want to take this drug for a different purpose.

Griseofulvin is available as a pill, capsule, and liquid for oral use. It is often taken once day, but it can also be taken up to four times daily. Even though your symptoms might improve within a few days, you will need to continue taking griseofulvin for a while before the infection is fully gone. Infections of the skin, hair, and scalp are often treated for 2 to 4 weeks, those of the feet for 4 to 8 weeks, those of the fingernails for 3 to 4 months, and those of the toenails for at least 6 months. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you do not understand, and carefully follow their instructions. Exactly as prescribed, take griseofulvin. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Shake the liquid well before each use to mix the medication evenly.

Continue to take griseofulvin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking griseofulvin without talking to your doctor.

Before taking griseofulvin,

• If you have any prescription allergies, alert your doctor and pharmacist right away.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all prescription and over-the-counter medications you are taking, notably vitamins, oral contraceptives, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), phenobarbital (Luminal), and other anticoagulants (often known as “blood thinners”).
• If you have liver illness, porphyria, lupus, or a history of alcohol addiction, let your doctor know.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking griseofulvin.
• If you consume alcohol, let your doctor know.
• You should make a plan to limit your time spent in the sun and to wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and protective clothes. Your skin could become sun-sensitive if you take griseofulvin.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Side effects are possible with griseofulvin. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Headache
• Uneasy stomach
• Vomiting
• Loose stools or diarrhea
• Thirst
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Faintness

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Unwell throat
• Body rash
• Mouth discomfort or irritability

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or by phone at 1-800-332-1088 if you have a serious side event.

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it at room temperature and out of the bathroom and other places with excessive heat and moisture. Keep the liquid out of direct sunlight. Avoid freezing.

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilizing a medicine take-back program is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programs in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back program, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

All medications should be kept out of the sight and reach of children, as many of the containers (such as weekly pill containers and those for eye drops, lotions, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for small children to open. Always lock safety caps and put the medication in a secure spot right away, up high and out of young children’s sight and reach, to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call 1-800-222-1222 to reach the poison control hotline in the event of an overdose. You can get information online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call emergency services at 911 right away if the sufferer has fallen, experienced a seizure, is having problems breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor how you are responding to griseofulvin, your doctor will request a few lab tests.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist. Call your doctor if you continue to experience infection symptoms after taking the griseofulvin.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.