Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

Tioconazole is an antifungal medication of the imidazole class used to treat infections caused by a fungus or yeast. Tioconazole is a broad-spectrum imidazole antifungal agent that inhibits the growth of human pathogenic yeasts. Tioconazole exhibits fungicidal activity in vitro against Candida albicans, other species of the genus Candida, and against Torulopsis glabrata. Tioconazole prevents the growth and function of some fungal organisms by interfering with the production of substances needed to preserve the cell membrane. This drug is effective only for infections caused by fungal organisms. Tioconazole interacts with 14-α demethylase, a cytochrome P-450 enzyme that converts lanosterol to ergosterol, an essential component of the yeast membrane. In this way, tioconazole inhibits ergosterol synthesis, resulting in increased cellular permeability. Tioconazole may also inhibit endogenous respiration, interact with membrane phospholipids, inhibit the transformation of yeasts to mycelial forms and the uptake of purine, impair triglyceride and/or phospholipid biosynthesis, and inhibit the movement of calcium and potassium ions across the cell membrane by blocking the ion transport pathway known as the Gardos channel. Side effects (for the women's formulas) may include temporary burning/irritation of the vaginal area, moderate drowsiness, headache similar to a sinus headache, hives, and upper respiratory infection.   ^NCATS