Compare ciclopirox vs. Ketoconazole

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.

Loprox (ciclopirox)

Prescription only

Nizoral (Ketoconazole)

Prescription or OTC

Treats fungal infections on nails, scalp, and skin.

Loprox (ciclopirox) is a cheap, effective treatment for fungal infections that have not penetrated past the skin, but requires daily application for weeks to months to see an improvement.

Treats fungal infections.

Nizoral (Ketoconazole) is a medication used on your skin to treat fungal infections; however, it takes several weeks for full recovery, and the directions are specific to each type of medication.

Upsides

Has few side effects compared to oral anti-fungal medications.
Easy to use and can be applied directly on the infected areas of the skin.
Safe to use for even people who have liver or kidney disease.
Available in cheap, generic version.

Recommended as a first choice medication to treat skin infections caused by fungi, including cradle cap, seborrheic dermatitis, and tinea versicolor.
Nizoral (Ketoconazole) isn't taken orally, so it doesn't cause liver issues.
Can be used with other medications to help control redness and swelling.
The 1% shampoo is available over-the-counter in the drugstore.

Downsides

You might need to use Loprox (ciclopirox) for many months to treat your condition.
In cases where Loprox (ciclopirox) is used on nails, you might need to remove the medication with alcohol every 7 days.
Not the best treatment option for severe and complicated fungal infections.

The foams (Extina and Ketodan) and gel (Xolegel) are only available as brand name and can be more expensive.
The 2.5% shampoo and creams are available only by prescription, but are generic.
The shampoo has to be left on for at least 5-10 minutes after lathering before you rinse it off.
It can take a few weeks for the infection to clear and a few months before the skin returns to its normal color.
The fungal infections can be confused for other skin infections, so if Nizoral (Ketoconazole) doesn't work, it could be caused by another skin problem.

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