Oral Medications to Treat Toenail Fungal Infection

JAMA. 2018 Jan 23;319(4):397-398. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.20160.

Abstract

Clinical question: Which oral antifungal medication is associated with the highest clinical (ie, normal appearance of the toenail) and mycological (negative culture, microscopy, or both) cure rates vs placebo or other antifungals when used to treat fungal infections?

Bottom line: Both terbinafine and azole-based medications were associated with higher clinical and mycological cure rates compared with placebo (high-quality evidence). Azoles were associated with lower cure rates than terbinafine when compared directly.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Antifungal Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Azoles / administration & dosage*
  • Azoles / adverse effects
  • Foot Dermatoses / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Naphthalenes / administration & dosage*
  • Naphthalenes / adverse effects
  • Onychomycosis / drug therapy*
  • Review Literature as Topic
  • Terbinafine

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Azoles
  • Naphthalenes
  • Terbinafine