Fungal nail infection (onychomycosis) requires complex and long-term treatment. Antifungal medicines 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
Tablet medicines with antimycotic action vary depending on the structure and mechanism of action.They are divided into varieties:
Polyenesquickly destroy fungal spores, disrupting the integrity of the membrane. They are well tolerated by the body and have no negative effects on the liver and digestive system.
To treat a fungal infection at the initial stage, external medicines 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 brought results.
Effective pills for nail fungus
The pharmacological market offers a wide range of antifungal drugs in tablet form, differing in the main active ingredient, manufacturer and cost.
Active substance:
- Terbinafine hydrochloride
- Fluconazole
- Terbinafine
- Ketoconazole
- Itraconazole
- Griseofulvin
- Itraconazole
- Ketoconazole
- Terbinafine
- Natamycin
When choosing a medicine, the type of fungal infection and the severity of the disease must be taken into account. Before starting therapy, 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 an antifungal medicine in tablets that has a pathogenic effect on pathogenic microorganisms that cause onychomycosis. Contains the active substance of the same name. The product helps to destroy the outer membrane of fungal pathogens, which leads to their death.
Inexpensive tablets are used to treat onychomycosis, dermophytosis and ringworm.Main contraindications:
- renal insufficiency;
- children under 3 years old;
- period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- hypersensitivity to terbinafine.
The medicine can cause side effects - headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, pain in stool, painful abdominal cramps.
With prolonged use, it is necessary to 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 permitted for 8 to 12 weeks.
A medicine from the group of triazole antifungals
Effective medicine with antifungal action, produced in different pharmacological forms. The medicine is used to eliminate fungal infections, as well as for prevention purposes. It is allowed to use 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 medicine 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 prevent remission, the medicine must be taken until the healthy nail plate grows back completely.
In rare cases, the medication 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
This is an antimycotic medicine that is highly effective against many types of fungal microorganisms. The active substance terbinafine inhibits the biosynthesis of sterols in fungal cells, which leads to the rapid death of infectious agents.
The medicine is well tolerated by the body and has a minimum 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 3-6 weeks. To cure advanced stages of nail fungus, the duration of the therapeutic course is increased to 10-12 weeks.
In extremely rare cases, it causes headaches, nausea, a feeling of fullness in the stomach, allergic manifestations and skin rashes.
A ketoconazole-based medicine
The substance ketoconazole is one of the most powerful antimycotic agents. It is used for systemic fungal infections in advanced and severe stages.
Use is recommended for complete damage to the nail plates, which also affects nearby soft tissues. Also, the drug is prescribed if topical antimycotics do not bring positive results.
Approved for use in liver disease, but best under a doctor's supervision and regular liver exams.
The medicine cannot be used to treat nail fungus in children under 12 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, as well as in case of individual intolerance.
Side effects: bouts of nausea and vomiting, flatulence and abdominal pain, conjunctivitis, allergic skin rashes, apathy, nervousness, in men - temporary deterioration in libido.
The recommended dosage for onychomycosis is 1-2 tablets per day, depending on the severity of the fungal infection. The duration of therapy is 4-5 weeks.
Preparation based on itraconalose 0. 1 g
The substance itraconazal is used in cheap medicines for nail fungus. It inhibits ergosterol in the cell membranes of pathogenic microorganisms and has a detrimental effect on almost all known nail fungus pathogens. Tablets containing intraconazole are used to treat fungal infections, regardless of the location and extent of the lesions.
The drug should not be used in case of worsening 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 medicine can cause negative reactions - the development of dysbiosis, bloating, stomach pain, headaches and dizziness. In rare cases, the medicine may cause soft tissue swelling.
To treat onychomycosis of the nails, it is recommended to take 1 tablet morning and evening for 10-12 weeks. After that, the medicine is taken in weekly courses with an interval of 2 to 3 weeks.
A medicine based on itraconalose
The antimycotic effect of the drug is provided by the active substance itraconazole. For fungal infections of the fingernails and toenails, the medicine is taken 2 tablets per day, once, or by dividing the dosage 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 pills 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, in the morning and in the evening.
The drug is well tolerated by the body. In rare cases, side effects may occur - nausea, constipation, allergic skin rashes, headaches, loss of appetite, nervousness, feeling tired, loss of strength. In case of exacerbation of liver diseases, use with caution.
Itraconazole-based medication 100 mg
The antimycotic drug contains the active substance itraconazole 100 mg, 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 for advanced stages of onychomycosis.
The medicine should not be taken in case of heart failure or low levels of sucrose in the blood. The medicine should be taken with extreme caution if you have fructose intolerance.
For fungal nail infections, it is recommended to take 1 tablet in the morning and evening, 20-30 minutes after meals. The average course of treatment is 2 to 3 weeks. Reception is stopped only after healthy nail plates grow back.
Taking the medicine may be accompanied by side effects - nausea, vomiting, stool disturbance, loss of appetite, headaches, dizziness, peripheral neuropathy, skin rash. In some cases, women may experience menstrual irregularities. In case of exacerbation of liver diseases, use with caution.
Ketoconazole-based medicine 200 mg
This is a broad-spectrum medicine with antimycotic and antibacterial effects. The main active component of the product is ketoconazole, which is highly effective against dermatophytes, eumycetes, dimorphic fungal pathogens and yeasts.
To treat fungal nail diseases, it is recommended to take 1-2 tablets throughout the day. The exact dosage of the medicine is determined by the doctor depending on the severity of the disease. The average duration of the therapeutic course is 12 to 15 weeks.
The medicine should not be taken during pregnancy, breastfeeding or when treating children under 3 years of age.
In case of exacerbation of liver diseases, use with caution. Tablets can cause negative reactions from internal organs - stool disorders, 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.
Brief summary
Effective and inexpensive antimycotic drugs, produced in tablet form, are used for fungal infections of the nail plates of various origins. They are prescribed when ointments, gels and other means of external application have not brought the desired results.
Broad-spectrum tablets are effective against most pathogenic microorganisms and fungal pathogens. The treatment of mycosis is long and complex, the medicine must be taken until healthy nail plates grow back.
Effective antifungal medications
Do your nails turn yellow and peel, do you have dandruff or do you have candidiasis? These are all symptoms of a fungal infection, which means treatment is essential. Let's talk to experts about what effective antifungal drugs exist and how to choose them correctly
Mycoses or fungal infections are a very common disease. Fungi generally affect the skin, mucous membranes and nails, but can also affect internal organs. Fortunately, effective antifungal medications can deal with almost all illnesses. The main thing is to choose the right medicine.
How to choose antifungal medications
A trivial but correct answer is to consult a doctor, who will diagnose and prescribe medications. It's very easy to make a mistake when diagnosing yourself because yeast infections have similar symptoms to many other illnesses. For example, the same "thrush" can be bacterial vaginosis, which requires completely different therapy. Furthermore, we must remember that long-term inadequate 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, remember that ointments, gels and creams on nails 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 medicine simply will not reach the lesion. If the matrix (active growth area of the nail) is damaged, therapy with tablets and injections along with local remedies is necessary 4.
How to correctly apply antifungal varnish
One of the important features of using antimycotic agents is that the nail plate must be as clean as possible. To do this, fungal deposits are carefully removed with nail scissors. The nails themselves must be cut short, washed with laundry soap and treated with an alcohol solution.
The varnish is applied with a special brush included in the product kit to completely dry nails. Avoid contact with surrounding skin. In this case, it is essential 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 your toes.
The most effective remedies for nail fungus
Nail fungus requires treatment at the first signs of the disease. The sooner the problem is diagnosed and treatment is started, the greater the chances of getting rid of ringworm successfully and with minimal consequences. Even among the most effective remedies for nail fungus, you should choose the most suitable option.
How to choose an effective remedy for nail fungus
Treating ringworm is a long process. Sometimes a dermatologist offers several drug options from the same pharmacological group. Considering the price of modern antifungal medications, one treatment usually costs a considerable amount.
Therefore, in some cases, it may be advisable, after consultation with a doctor, to select a cheaper analogue of the drug with the same or similar active ingredient in its pharmacological properties. In order not to make a mistake when choosing, it is worth taking into account patient reviews about the most popular drugs.
Pharmaceutical medicines 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).
There are many pathogenic species among fungi, and the exact cause of the disease will be determined by the doctor after carrying out an analysis. In advanced cases, the analysis may show several pathogenic fungi, and each of them will require 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 disintegration of the nail itself. Nails appear deformed with inflamed skin and nailfold ridge. There is delamination and fragility of the nail, the fingers look unkempt. In advanced cases, the tissue begins to die and expose the nail bed.
What groups of antifungal agents are there for nail fungus?
Among mycoses there are intractable diseases with a tendency to relapse. If you violate the treatment regimen and stop the course as soon as the visible symptoms of the disease disappear, the lesion will return in an even more complex form and it will be much more difficult to eliminate it.
When treated with any medication, even the most expensive, you cannot survive with just one pill, nail fungus requires time and patience.
It is not advisable to self-medicate, at the first sign of nail fungus you should consult a dermatologist.
Azole group
Antimycotic agents based on the active ingredients imidazoles and triazoles have a double effect:
- fungicide - destroys pathogen cells;
- fungistatic - destroys fungal spores and prevents their reproduction.
These products show good activity against yeast, mold and yeast-like fungi. Medicines 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 regimen. This is usually an ongoing course, but another treatment regimen, scheduled over several months (up to six months) while healthy nails grow, is possible. Ointments and creams are applied to the affected nail plates several times a day.
Before treatment, you first need to trim your nails at the roots and do a foot soda bath.
Allylamine group
Medicines based on allylamines quickly eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of fungal nail infections: burning and itching. The active substance is active against fungi of the genus Candida, dermatophytes, as well as fungi, the pathogen is destroyed by destroying the membrane of its cells.
Creams and sprays are applied to affected nails 1-2 times a day after hygiene procedures: cutting nails, bathing in soap, completely 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
Medicines from the morpholine group contain amorolfine 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 disappear 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, well dried and degreased. When treating your nails with antifungal varnish, follow strict hygiene measures: use only disposable nail files, disinfect the spatula.
Preparations from the morpholine group show good effectiveness against various types of fungi, penetrate the nail plate and begin to act quickly. Until the nails are completely restored, the treatment can last 9 to 12 months.