Fungal nail infection (onychomycosis) requires complex and long-term treatment. Antifungal drugs contained in broad-spectrum tablets effectively fight pathogenic microorganisms, eliminate the symptoms of the disease and improve the condition of the nails.
Classification of antifungal tablets
Tablets with antimycotic action vary depending on the structure and mechanism of action.They are divided into varieties:
Polyenesquickly destroy fungal spores by disrupting the integrity of their membrane. They are well tolerated by the body and do not have a negative effect on the liver and digestive system.
To treat fungal infection at the initial stage, external medications are used - solution, varnish or cream, hydrogen peroxide.
It is recommended to treat fungus with tablets when ointments, creams, oils, sprays and other topical agents have not given any results.
Effective tablets against nail fungus
The pharmacological market offers a wide range of antifungal drugs in tablet form, which differ in the main active ingredient, manufacturer and cost.
Active substance:
- Terbinafine hydrochloride
- Fluconazole
- Terbinafine
- Ketoconazole
- Itraconazole
- Griseofulvin
- Itraconazole
- Ketoconazole
- Terbinafine
- Natamycin
When choosing a drug, you should take into account the type of fungal infection and the severity of the disease. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to correctly establish the nature of onychomycosis, since many drugs affect only a certain group of pathogens.
A medicine based on terbinafine hydrochloride
This is a tablet antifungal drug that has a pathogenic effect on pathogenic microorganisms that cause onychomycosis. Contains the active substance of the same name. The product helps destroy the outer membrane of fungal pathogens, leading to its death.
Cheap tablets are used to treat onychomycosis, dermophytosis and ringworm.Main contraindications:
- renal failure;
- children under 3 years old;
- period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- hypersensitivity to terbinafine.
The medication may cause side effects: headache, nausea, loss of appetite, trouble with bowel movements, painful abdominal cramps.
With long-term use, you should systematically monitor liver function and stop drinking alcoholic beverages.
The recommended dosage is 1 tablet per day. The duration of treatment is determined individually. In an advanced stage of onychomycosis, use is allowed for 8-12 weeks.
A drug from the group of triazole antifungal agents
An effective drug with antifungal action, produced in various pharmacological forms. The drug is used to get rid of fungal infections, as well as for prevention purposes. Its use is allowed for liver diseases, but under the supervision of a doctor.
Main contraindications for use:
- kidney diseases;
- period of exacerbation of psoriasis and other dermatological diseases of an inflammatory nature;
- pregnancy;
- individual intolerance to the active components of fluconazole.
To treat nail fungus, the medication is taken once a day for 4 weeks. After that, the dosage is reduced to 1 tablet every 7 days. The product has a cumulative effect - after 4-5 days of use, a high concentration of the substance accumulates in the stratum corneum of the nail plate.
To avoid remission, the drug should be taken until the healthy nail plate fully grows.
In rare cases, the drug causes side effects such as nausea, stomach pain, itching and burning in areas affected by the fungus, as well as various allergic reactions.
A medicine based on terbinafine hydrochloride 10 mg
It is an antimycotic drug that is very effective against many types of fungal microorganisms. The active ingredient terbinafine inhibits the biosynthesis of sterols in fungal cells, which leads to the rapid death of infectious agents.
The drug is well tolerated by the body and has a minimal number of contraindications for use - severe forms of kidney disease, increased sensitivity to the active components included in its composition. Approved for use in liver diseases.
For adults, it is recommended to take 1 tablet per day for 3 to 6 weeks. To cure advanced stages of toenail fungus, the duration of therapeutic treatment is increased to 10-12 weeks.
In extremely rare cases, it causes headache, nausea, a feeling of fullness in the stomach, allergic manifestations and skin rashes.
A medicine based on ketoconazole
The substance ketoconazole is one of the most powerful antimycotic agents. It is used for systemic fungal infections in severe and advanced stages.
Its use is recommended in case of complete damage to the nail plates, which also affects neighboring soft tissues. Also, the drug is prescribed if antimycotic drugs for topical use have not given positive results.
Approved for use in liver diseases, but preferably under a doctor's supervision and regular liver tests.
The drug cannot be used to treat nail fungus in children under 12 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, as well as individual intolerances.
Side effects: attacks of nausea and vomiting, flatulence and abdominal pain, conjunctivitis, allergic skin rashes, apathy, nervousness, in men - temporary deterioration of libido.
The recommended dosage for onychomycosis is 1 to 2 tablets per day, depending on the severity of the fungal infection. The duration of treatment is 4 to 5 weeks.
Preparation based on itraconalose 0. 1 g
The substance itraconazal is used in inexpensive medications for toenail fungus. It inhibits ergosterol in the cell membranes of pathogenic microorganisms and has a detrimental effect on almost all known pathogens of nail fungus. Tablets containing intraconazole are used to treat fungal infections, regardless of the location and extent of lesions.
The drug should not be used in case of exacerbation of kidney diseases, as well as hypersensitivity to the active components included in its composition. For liver diseases, it is used during the period of remission.
A cheap and effective drug can cause negative reactions - the development of dysbiosis, bloating, stomach pain, headaches and dizziness. In rare cases, the medication may cause swelling of soft tissues.
To treat nail onychomycosis, it is recommended to take 1 tablet morning and evening for 10 to 12 weeks. After that, the drug is taken in weekly courses with a break of 2-3 weeks.
A drug based on itraconalose
The antimycotic effect of the drug is provided by the active ingredient itraconazole. For fungal infections of fingernails and toenails, the medicine is taken 2 tablets per day once or by dividing the dose into two doses. The duration of treatment is 8 to 12 weeks.
At home it can also be used for weekly therapy. After taking the tablets for 7 days, take a break for 3 weeks, after which the treatment is continued. For fungal infections of the nail plates, at least 3 courses are required. The tablets are taken in 2 pieces, morning and evening.
The drug is well tolerated by the body. In rare cases, side effects may appear: nausea, constipation, allergic skin rashes, headache, loss of appetite, nervousness, feeling tired, loss of strength. In case of exacerbation of liver diseases, use with caution.
Itraconazole drug 100 mg
The antimycotic drug contains 100 mg of the active ingredient itraconazole, which has a destructive effect on fungal membranes and leads to the death of pathogenic microorganisms. It is a broad-spectrum drug, which is why it is prescribed in advanced stages of onychomycosis.
The medicine should not be taken in case of heart failure or low levels of sucrose in the blood. The medication should be taken with extreme caution if you suffer from fructose intolerance.
For nail fungus, it is recommended to take 1 tablet morning and evening, 20 to 30 minutes after meals. The average duration of treatment is 2 to 3 weeks. Reception is stopped only after healthy nail plates regrow.
Taking the drug may be accompanied by side effects - nausea, vomiting, stool disturbances, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness, peripheral neuropathy, rash. In some cases, women may suffer from menstrual irregularities. In case of exacerbation of liver diseases, use with caution.
Ketoconazole medication 200 mg
It is a broad-spectrum drug with antimycotic and antibacterial effects. The main active component of the product is ketoconazole, which is very effective against dermatophytes, eumycetes, dimorphic fungal pathogens and yeasts.
To treat fungal nail diseases, it is recommended to take 1-2 tablets per day. The exact dosage of the drug is determined by the doctor depending on the severity of the disease. The average duration of the therapeutic course is 12-15 weeks.
The medicine should not be taken during pregnancy, breastfeeding or for the treatment of children under 3 years old.
In case of exacerbation of liver diseases, use with caution. Tablets can cause negative reactions from internal organs - disturbed stools, nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, drowsiness, loss of strength.
The use of the drug in men in some cases is accompanied by a decrease in sexual activity and a deterioration in erectile function, which negatively affects intimate life.
Short summary
Effective and inexpensive antimycotic drugs, produced in tablet form, are used for fungal infections of nail plates of various origins. They are prescribed when ointments, gels and other means for external application have not brought the expected results.
Broad spectrum tablets are effective against most pathogenic microorganisms and fungal pathogens. The treatment of mycoses is long and complex; the medication should be taken until healthy nail plates grow back.
Effective antifungal drugs
Are your nails yellowing and peeling, do you have dandruff or are you affected by thrush? These are all symptoms of a fungal infection, which means treatment is essential. Let's talk with experts about effective antifungal drugs and how to choose them correctly.
Mycoses or fungal infections are a very common disease. Fungi usually affect the skin, mucous membranes and nails, but can also affect internal organs. Fortunately, effective antifungal medications can treat almost any disease. The main thing is to choose the right remedy.
How to choose antifungal drugs
A trivial but correct answer is to consult a doctor, who will make a diagnosis and prescribe medication. It is very easy to make a mistake when diagnosing because fungal infections have similar symptoms to many other diseases. For example, the same "thrush" may turn out to be bacterial vaginosis, which requires completely different treatment. In addition, it should be remembered that improper long-term treatment worsens the course of the disease.
Fungal nail infections are the easiest to diagnose, although mistakes are also possible here. If you treat yourself, keep in mind that nail ointments, gels and creams do not work, only liquids and varnishes. An important point that many do not take into account is that the affected part of the nail must be removed before applying the medication. If this is not done, the medication will simply not reach the lesion. If the matrix (the area of active growth of the nail) is damaged, treatment with tablets and injections is necessary as well as local remedies 4.
How to correctly apply antifungal varnish
One of the important features of using antimycotic agents is that the nail plate should be as clean as possible. To do this, fungal deposits are carefully removed using nail scissors. The nails themselves should be cut short, washed with laundry soap and treated with an alcohol solution.
The varnish is applied using a special brush included in the product kit on perfectly dry nails. Avoid contact with surrounding skin. In this case, it is imperative to follow the instructions. To enhance the effect of the varnish, it is advisable to wear light cotton socks throughout the treatment, changing them daily, and spacious shoes that do not squeeze the toes.
The most effective remedies for toenail fungus
Nail fungus requires treatment at the first signs of the disease. The sooner the problem is diagnosed and treatment started, the greater the chances of successfully getting rid of the fungus with minimal consequences. Even among the most effective remedies for nail fungus, you need to choose the most suitable option.
How to choose an effective remedy for nail fungus
Treatment of mycosis is a long process. Sometimes a dermatologist offers several options for drugs from the same pharmacological group. Considering the price of modern antifungal drugs, treatment often costs a considerable amount of money.
Therefore, in some cases it may be advisable, after consulting a doctor, to select a cheaper analogue of the drug containing the same active ingredient or similar pharmacological properties. In order not to be mistaken in the choice, it is worth taking into account patient reviews about the most popular drugs.
Pharmacy drugs for nail fungus are divided according to the method of application:
- external preparations intended for local treatment of affected surfaces (sprays, ointments, creams, varnishes);
- internal preparations have a systemic antimycotic effect on the entire body (capsules, tablets).
Among fungi there are many pathogenic species and the exact cause of the disease will be determined by the doctor after analysis. In advanced cases, the analysis may reveal several pathogenic fungi, and each of them will need its own medicine.
How to determine if your nails are affected by fungus
Nail fungus is characterized by inflammation, pain and swelling of the finger, as well as yellowing and crumbling of the nail itself. The nails appear deformed with inflamed skin and a periungual ridge. There is delamination and fragility of the nail, the fingers appear neglected. In advanced cases, the tissue begins to die and exposes the nail bed.
What groups of antifungal agents exist for nail fungus?
Among mycoses, there are incurable diseases with a tendency to relapse. If you violate the treatment regimen and stop treatment as soon as the visible symptoms of the disease disappear, the lesion will reappear in an even more complex form and it will be much more difficult to get rid of it.
When treated with any medicine, even the most expensive one, you cannot get by with just one tablet, nail fungus requires time and patience.
It is not recommended to self-treat: at the first signs of nail fungus, you should consult a dermatologist.
Azole group
Antimycotic agents based on the active ingredients imidazoles and triazoles have a dual effect:
- fungicide - destroys the cells of the pathogen;
- fungistatic - destroys fungal spores and prevents their reproduction.
These products show good activity against yeasts, molds and yeast-like fungi. Drugs from the azole group are available in different forms: for oral administration - tablets and capsules, external forms - ointments, creams, varnishes, solutions.
Capsules and tablets are taken as prescribed by the attending physician according to the recommended treatment regimen. This is usually a continuous treatment, but another treatment regimen is possible, scheduled over several months (up to six months) while healthy nails grow. Ointments and creams are rubbed into the affected nail plates several times a day.
Before treatment, you must first cut your nails at the root and make a soda soap bath for your feet.
Allylamine group
Medicines based on allylamines quickly eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of nail fungus: burning and itching. The active substance is active against fungi of the genus Candida, dermatophytes and molds; the pathogen is destroyed by destroying the membrane of their cells.
Creams and sprays are applied to affected nails 1-2 times a day after hygiene procedures: nail cutting, soap bath, complete drying.
For local treatment, it makes sense to use drugs from the allylamine group if the pathogen affects less than half of the surface of the nail plates and the matrix is not affected. Otherwise, systemic tablets are indicated to destroy the infection.
The medicine should be rubbed into the surface, touching the surrounding skin.
Morpholine group
Drugs from the morpholine group contain amorolfin as the main active ingredient. The most convenient form of the drug from this group is considered to be varnish.
The varnish is applied to the affected nails and does not fade for 1-2 weeks, a new layer is regularly applied over the old one.
Before coating, the affected surface of the nails must be steamed, dried well and degreased. When treating nails with antifungal varnish, be sure to observe strict hygiene measures: use only a disposable file, disinfect the spatula.
Preparations from the morpholine group show good effectiveness against various types of fungi, penetrate the nail plate and quickly begin to act. Until the nails are completely restored, treatment can last 9 to 12 months.