Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: KETOZOLE versus SELSUN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: KETOZOLE versus SELSUN.
KETOZOLE vs SELSUN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Ketoconazole is an imidazole antifungal agent that inhibits fungal cytochrome P450 14α-demethylase, thereby blocking the conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol, a key component of the fungal cell membrane. This leads to increased membrane permeability and cell death.
Selenium sulfide is an antifungal agent that inhibits the growth of Malassezia species by reducing selenium to elemental selenium, which is toxic to the fungus. It also reduces sebum production via unknown mechanisms.
200 mg orally once daily with food.
Apply 5-10 mL of 2.5% selenium sulfide lotion to affected areas of scalp, lather with water, leave on for 2-3 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Use twice weekly for 2 weeks, then once weekly for maintenance.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life is approximately 2 hours (range 1.5–3.5 hours). Clinically, duration of antifungal effect extends beyond plasma half-life due to persistent tissue levels.
Not well defined due to minimal systemic absorption; topical application yields negligible plasma levels.
Primarily hepatic metabolism; renal excretion of unchanged drug <1%. Biliary/fecal excretion accounts for ~20-35% of metabolites.
Selenium sulfide is minimally absorbed; absorbed portions are excreted renally (approx. 80-90%) and fecally (10-20%).
Category C
Category C
Antifungal
Antifungal/Antiseborrheic