Griseofulvin is best taken with or after meals, especially fatty ones (for example, whole milk or ice cream). This lessens possible stomach upset and helps to clear up the infection by helping your body absorb the medicine better. However, if you are on a low-fat diet, check with your doctor.

For patients taking the oral liquid form of griseofulvin :

• Use a specially marked measuring spoon or other device to measure each dose accurately. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.

To help clear up your infection completely, keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. Do not miss any doses.

Dosing

The dose of griseofulvin will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of griseofulvin. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules or tablets or teaspoonfuls of suspension that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking griseofulvin.

• For microsize capsules, tablets, and suspension:
  • Adults and teenagers:
    • Treatment of fungus infections of the feet and nails 500 milligrams (mg) every twelve hours.
    • Treatment of fungus infections of the scalp, skin, and groin 250 mg every twelve hours; or 500 mg once a day.
  • Children:
    • Treatment of fungus infections Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 5 mg per kilogram (kg) (2.3 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours; or 10 mg per kg (4.6 mg per pound) of body weight once a day.
• For ultramicrosize tablets:
  • Adults and teenagers:
    • Treatment of fungus infections of the feet and nails 250 to 375 mg every twelve hours.
    • Treatment of fungus infections of the scalp, skin, and groin 125 to 187.5 mg every twelve hours; or 250 to 375 mg once a day.
  • Infants and children up to 2 years of age:
    • Treatment of fungus infections Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • Children 2 years of age and over:
    • Treatment of fungus infections Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 2.75 to 3.65 mg per kg (1.25 to 1.7 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours; or 5.5 to 7.3 mg per kg (2.5 to 3.3 mg per pound) of body weight once a day.

Missed dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the capsule or tablet form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Keep the oral liquid form of this medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For griseofulvin, the following should be considered:

Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to penicillins, penicillamine (e.g., Cuprimine), or griseofulvin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet Griseofulvin is absorbed best when it is taken with a high fat meal, such as a cheeseburger, whole milk, or ice cream. Tell your doctor if you are on a low-fat diet.

Pregnancy Griseofulvin should not be used during pregnancy. The birth of twins that were joined together has been reported, although rarely, in women who took griseofulvin during the first 3 months of pregnancy. In addition, studies in rats and dogs have shown that griseofulvin causes birth defects and other problems.

Breast-feeding It is not known if griseofulvin is excreted in breast milk. However, griseofulvin has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children This medicine has been tested in a limited number of children 2 years of age or older. In effective doses, the medicine has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of griseofulvin in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking griseofulvin, it is especially important that your health care professional knows if you are taking any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners) Griseofulvin may decrease the effectiveness of anticoagulants in some patients

• Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) containing estrogen Griseofulvin may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills, which may result in breakthrough bleeding and unwanted pregnancies

• Liver disease Griseofulvin may on rare occasion cause side effects affecting the liver

• Lupus erythematosus or lupus-like diseases Griseofulvin may worsen lupus symptoms in patients who have lupus erythematosus or lupus-like diseases

• Porphyria Griseofulvin may increase attacks of porphyria in patients with acute intermittent porphyria