Ketoconazole is an imidazole antifungal that kills or stops the growth of fungi and yeasts by disrupting their cell membranes. In Nigeria it is most familiar as a 2% cream and a 2% shampoo (the best-known brand being Nizoral) used on the skin and scalp, and it is one of the most widely stocked antifungal creams in pharmacies and patent-medicine shops. Our copy of the NAFDAC register lists dozens of active ketoconazole registrations, many of them creams made in Nigeria.
In the NAFDAC register
114 registered products
from 70 registration holders
What it costs online
about ₦30,000syrup
median of 5 listings
Also sampled: cream (2 listings, ₦6,750–₦8,750)
≈₦471 per ml (syrup/suspension)
0% since August 2026 · like-for-like
Sampled from 7 listings across MedPlus and Supermart.ng · October 2026
Found at MedPlus and Supermart.ng: 5 listings of syrup, only 2 of cream. With 45 active registrations as cream in the NAFDAC register, the headline figure above prices the syrup, not the cream.
Full price breakdown →Brands of Ketoconazole in Nigeria
Comes as
In combinations: Clobetasol + Ketoconazole + Neomycin · Ketoconazole + Clobetasol propionate + Neomycin sulphate + Vitamin E · Ketoconazole + Clobetasol propionate + Neomycin sulphate · Betamethasone + Ketoconazole
Those 114 products from 70 registration holders, counted in our October 2026 copy of the register, include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form | NAFDAC Reg. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Johnson & Johnson | 2% | Cream | |
| Cika Ketoconazole Cream | Michelle Laboratories Limited | 2% | Cream | A11-100354 |
| Conaz Cream | Jawa International Limited | 2% | Cream | A11-1285 |
| Hyzoral Cream | Suitelife Pharmaceuticals Ltd | 2% | Cream | A4-100132 |
| Nizoral Shampoo | Johnson & Johnson | 2% | Shampoo | 04-1734 |
| Obisoral | Obigod Pharmaceuticals Com Ltd | 2% | Cream | A4-100915 |
Ketoconazole Price in Nigeria
As of October 2026, Ketoconazole syrup sells for about ₦471 per ml online in Nigeria (packs ₦11,200–₦64,500; Nizoral) at MedPlus and Supermart.ng; cream ₦6,750–₦8,750. The online price is roughly unchanged since August 2026. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.
Online retail (sampled)
Same medicine throughout — every listing contains Ketoconazole. The difference is brand and pack size.
Syrup/Suspension
median ₦30,000 · 5 listings
CheapestMESO-KET SHAMPOO 120ML (KETOCONAZOLE 2%)(MedPlus)
₦11,200PriciestNizoral Shampoo 120 ml(Supermart.ng)
₦64,500Cream/Ointment
₦6,750 – ₦8,750 · 2 listings
7 listings across MedPlus + Supermart.ng · October 2026.
Unchanged since August 2026.
How to Verify Your Ketoconazole is Genuine
- 1Check the NAFDAC registration number on the tube or bottle — for example, Cika Ketoconazole Cream (Michelle Laboratories) carries A11-100354 in our copy of the register.
- 2Verify any ketoconazole brand's number with our NAFDAC checker before paying.
- 3For skin and scalp problems, buy the cream or shampoo — not the tablet; be cautious of anyone recommending ketoconazole tablets for a simple fungal infection.
- 4Buy from a registered pharmacy and check the tube seal, batch number and expiry date; skin creams are a common target for repackaging and counterfeiting.
- 5A NAFDAC-registered, locally made ketoconazole cream verified through the register is a reliable and usually affordable choice.
Where to Buy
Buying Ketoconazole wholesale, by the carton
Cartons of ketoconazole are bought at Nigeria's open drug markets: Idumota Market in Lagos, Ariaria Market in Aba, Ogbogwu Market in Onitsha and Sabon Gari Market in Kano. Each guide says where the market is and how to buy there safely; where we list sellers, they are named.
- Idumota Market, Lagos · wholesale sellers in Idumota Market
- Ariaria Market, Aba
- Ogbogwu Market, Onitsha
- Sabon Gari Market, Kano
No shop we list has Ketoconazole on its confirmed product list yet — the market guides still tell you where the trade happens and how to buy there safely.
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Wherever you buy, buy only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors — not roadside vendors — and verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you pay. Buying Ketoconazole in bulk or for resale? See how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely.
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What is Ketoconazole?
Applied to the skin, ketoconazole is effective and safe for common fungal problems: ringworm, jock itch, athlete's foot, the discoloured patches of pityriasis versicolor, and — as a cream or shampoo — dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis. Because the amount absorbed through the skin is tiny, the topical forms avoid the serious risks that come with the tablet.
The ketoconazole tablet is a very different matter. After reports of severe, sometimes fatal liver injury and dangerous hormone effects, medicines regulators in the US, Europe and elsewhere withdrew or severely restricted oral ketoconazole for fungal infections — safer tablets such as fluconazole and itraconazole are now used instead. Oral ketoconazole survives only for a few rare hormone-related conditions under specialist care. In Nigeria the tablet can still be found on sale, so it is worth being clear: for a skin or scalp fungus, the cream or shampoo is the right ketoconazole, not the tablet.
What is Ketoconazole used for?
In Nigeria, Ketoconazole is commonly used for:
- Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis) and groin (tinea cruris / 'jock itch')
- Athlete's foot (tinea pedis)
- Pityriasis (tinea) versicolor — pale or dark uneven patches, common in Nigeria's humid climate
- Dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis of the scalp and face (cream or shampoo)
- Candidal intertrigo — yeast infection in warm skin folds
- Oral ketoconazole tablets: only for specific hormone-related conditions under specialist supervision — no longer recommended for ordinary fungal infections
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
Cream: apply a thin layer to the affected skin and a small margin around it once or twice daily. Ringworm and jock itch usually need 2 to 4 weeks; athlete's foot and versicolor may need up to 4 to 6 weeks. Keep applying for a few days after the rash clears to prevent it coming back. Shampoo (for dandruff/seborrhoeic dermatitis): apply to wet scalp, leave for 3 to 5 minutes, then rinse — twice a week for 2 to 4 weeks, then once every week or two to keep it away. The oral tablet is not recommended for fungal infections and should only ever be taken under a specialist's direction.
Children
The 2% cream can be used on children for fungal skin infections, applied thinly once or twice daily, ideally on a pharmacist's or doctor's advice for younger children. The shampoo can be used on the scalp with care to avoid the eyes. Oral ketoconazole should not be used in children.
Elderly
The cream and shampoo need no dose change in older adults. As with anyone, avoid the oral tablet for fungal infection.
Wash and dry the area before applying the cream — fungi thrive in moisture, so keeping skin folds, feet and the groin dry is part of the treatment. Do not share towels or footwear, and treat athlete's foot and jock itch together as they often coexist. Avoid the eyes with both cream and shampoo. If a rash is spreading, weeping, or not improving after a few weeks, see a doctor — it may not be fungal, or may need an oral antifungal such as fluconazole.
Side Effects
General information for a reader holding a pack, not a substitute for a doctor or pharmacist. If something on the serious list is happening, seek care now.
Common side effects
- •Mild burning, stinging or itching where the cream is applied
- •Redness or dryness of the treated skin
- •Scalp irritation or changes in hair texture with the shampoo
- •Rarely, a contact allergic reaction to the cream
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Oral ketoconazole tablets: severe liver injury (including fatal cases) — the reason the tablet was withdrawn for fungal use in many countries
- Oral tablets: dangerous heart-rhythm changes (QT prolongation) and interference with the body's steroid and testosterone production
- Topical forms: severe allergic skin reaction (marked swelling, blistering) — uncommon
- Signs of a spreading or bacterial skin infection needing different treatment
When to see a doctor
For the cream or shampoo, stop and see a pharmacist or doctor if the skin becomes markedly more red, swollen, blistered or painful, or if there is no improvement after the expected treatment period. For anyone taking ketoconazole tablets, seek medical attention urgently for signs of liver trouble — yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, severe tiredness, nausea, pain in the upper right abdomen — and question why the tablet is being used at all for a fungal infection.
Warnings & Precautions
General information for a reader holding a pack, not a substitute for a doctor or pharmacist. If something on the serious list is happening, seek care now.
Do not take Ketoconazole if you have:
- Known allergy to ketoconazole or other imidazole antifungals
- Oral tablet: existing liver disease — a firm contraindication
- Oral tablet: use for ordinary fungal infections is no longer recommended and is restricted or withdrawn in many countries
- Broken or heavily weeping skin — get advice before applying cream
Drug interactions
- •Topical cream and shampoo have negligible absorption and essentially no drug interactions
- •Oral ketoconazole (specialist use only) interacts dangerously with many medicines — statins, certain antihistamines, some heart and psychiatric drugs, and others — via strong inhibition of the liver's CYP3A4 enzyme
- •Oral ketoconazole with alcohol — added liver strain and, rarely, a disulfiram-like reaction
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
The cream and shampoo are considered low-risk in pregnancy and breastfeeding because so little is absorbed through the skin; even so, use them only as needed and avoid applying cream to the breast area while nursing. Oral ketoconazole should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding. When in doubt, ask a pharmacist or doctor.
Related Resources for Ketoconazole
Guides, articles, and tools related to Ketoconazole and other dermatology medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Ketoconazole on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Ketoconazole.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.