Small Animal Dermatology, 3rd edition

774 APPENDIX B DRUG FORMULARY

Drug name (trade orother names)

Pharmacology andindications

Adverse effects andprecautions

Dosing information andcomments

Formulations

Dosage (unlessotherwise indicated,dose is the same fordogs and cat)

Fluconazole (Diflucan)

Azole antifungal drug.Similar mechanism asother azole antifungalagents. Inhibits ergosterolsynthesis in fungal cellmembrane. Fungistatic.Active againstdermatophytes andvariety of systemic fungi,but not

Aspergillus

sp.

Adverse effects have notbeen reported fromfluconazoleadministration. Comparedto ketoconazole, has lesseffect on endocrinefunction. However,increased liver enzymeplasma concentrationsand hepatopathy arepossible. Compared toother oral azoleantifungals, fluconazole isabsorbed morepredictably andcompletely, even on anempty stomach.

Doses for fluconazole areprimarily based on studiesperformed in cats fortreatment ofcryptococcosis. Efficacyfor other infections hasnot been reported. Theprimary differencebetween fluconazole andother azoles is thatfluconazole attains higherconcentrations in theCNS.

50, 100, 150 or200 mg tablets; 10or 40 mg/mL oralsuspension;2mg/mLIVinjection.

Dog: 10–12 mg/kg q24hpo. For

Malassezia

,

5 mg/kg q12h po hasbeen used.Cat: 50 mg/cat q12h–24h,po.

Flucytosine (Ancobon)

Antifungal drug. Used incombination with otherantifungal drugs fortreatment ofcryptococcosis. Action isto penetrate fungal cellsandisconvertedtofluorouracil, which acts asantimetabolite.

Anemia andthrombocytopenia arepossible.

Flucytosine is usedprimarily to treatcryptococcosis in animals.Efficacy is based onflucytosine’s ability toattain high concentrationsin cerebrospinal fluid.Flucytosine may besynergistic withamphotericin B.

250 mg capsule;75 mg/mL oralsuspension.

25–50 mg/kg q6–8h po(up to a maximum dose of100 mg/kg q12h po).