Risks Vs. Benefits of Prescription Toenail Fungus Treatment
Are there risks associated with oral prescription toenail fungus medication? Do topical or over-the-counter treatments work just as well? If you're concerned about the safest, most effective options for treating your toenail fungus, our resident medical expert and world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Neil Sadick addresses these concerns.
Authored By Neil Sadick, MD FAAD, FAACS, FACP, FACPH
The Prevalence of Fungal Nail Infections
Fungal nail infections are a very common condition affecting anywhere from 10- 50% of the general population, depending on age, as well as certain medical conditions. Many people are bothered by its unsightly appearance and social implications. Most of those afflicted find themselves trying to hide their feet as much as possible, no easy task especially if you’re a woman wearing shoes that are designed to show off your toes. You can try to cover up with nail polish but even this has its limitations, as the infection worsens and the nails become brittle, cracked and uneven. Going to the nail salon is usually an embarrassing experience that you’d probably rather avoid.
The Topical vs. Oral Treatment Debate
Most of us strive to be our best selves, which as a cosmetic dermatologist is something I am extremely passionate about. From a medical standpoint, a medical condition untreated is never a good idea. Untreated toenail fungus infections can lead to other infections and unwanted medical problems, as well as the risk of spreading to others. As a doctor, I always balance the risk with the benefit and use treatments with the greatest efficacy and highest safety profiles, and I recommend treating this ideally when it first starts.
For this blog, I’d like to discuss a topic I often hear from my patients when I prescribe a treatment that is worth discussing. It goes something like this, “Can’t I just use something topical to treat this?” or “I heard oral fungal medicines can cause liver failure?”.
The Risk-Benefit Ratio of Oral Antifungal Medications
To the first question, the answer is “Yes, you can use a prescription topical-only treatment but the caveat is that this alone works less than half the time and has a high recurrence rate. The results are even more disappointing when it comes to purchasing an over-the-counter treatment you buy at the pharmacy or supermarket”. To put it another way, topicals alone fall in the category of “Can’t hurt might help” they also fall in the category of “the most expensive drug or treatment, is the one that doesn’t work”. After some additional questions, I tend to find that they believe there is a risk of taking these oral medications. In medicine, there is always a risk-benefit ratio that doctors have to consider before deciding on a treatment. If the benefit significantly outweighs the risk, you do it. In this case, the winner is that oral antifungals are the most effective treatments and one of them should be part of the treatment algorithm for curing toenail fungus. The clinical data on this is very clear however there’s a perception regarding the risk, so let's dig to see why and if it's warranted.
What are the oral treatment options used to Treat Toenail Fungus?
Fluconazole and Terbinafine are two oral antifungal medications that are both safe and effective and used to treat certain types of fungal and yeast infections. They can be administered orally or topically, with the oral route being the most effective form to cure fungal infections like toenail fungus. Fluconazole requires patients to take one 150- 450mg tablet once per week for 6-12 months, whereas terbinafine typically requires patients to take one 250 mg tablet daily for 12 weeks. These drugs act by disrupting the fungal cell membranesand resulting in cell death.
What is Fluconazole?
Dose Requirements
The Safety Profile of Antifungal Medications
Terbinafine is the most commonly used as it is very effective as well as a shorter duration of treatment, which helps with patient compliance. Fluconazole can be substituted for patients that may have a history of liver disease, side effects or be on other medications that can interact. What are the treatments and risks of each? An ample amount of data and research exists when looking at how safe these drugs are for consumers, especially those who need relief from toenail fungal infections. The risk of lliver disease with terbinafine is considered very rare, occurring once every 50,000 to 120,000 prescriptions. Ultimately, findings have determined that preexisting liver conditions can affect the susceptibility of the user to liver damage from these medications. Equally, those who are genetically disposed to liver ailments also have a high risk of this side effect, but in one study, this carrier trait was found in less than 1% of the participants. If doctors prioritize screening individuals for pre-existing liver disease, in addition to potential interacting medications, the chances of liver damage solely from toenail fungus medication are extremely low.
Consult Your Doctor Before Starting Treatment
Prior to starting any prescription drug for toenail fungus, it’s important to speak with your doctor to address any underlying issues you may have, family history with health conditions, medications you are currently taking that may react negatively with antifungal prescriptions, and if you are currently suffering from liver disease. As part of our patient review process, we make sure we ask for a complete medical history, as well as any medications they may be taking. When this approach is followed, the chance of liver disease is extremely rare.
Signs and Symptoms of Liver Complications
In the rare instance of liver complications, the following may be presenting symptoms:
● Jaundice
● Pain in your upper right abdomen
● Ascites, or a swollen stomach
● Nausea
● Vomiting
● Disorientation, confusion, or any other changes in awareness● Sudden mental or personality changes
● The breath may have a musty or sweet odor
● Tremors
● Dark urine
● Pruritus, or itching
● Urticaria, or hives
How STRIDE is Different
STRIDE telehealth offers a thorough, doctor-recommended treatment plan to cure toenail fungus using FDA-approved medications developed by world-leading dermatologists. Prior to starting our effective treatment regimen, our professional doctors will take every patient’s health and drug history into account, along with making keen assessments of family dispositions to certain ailments. STRIDE understands how debilitating toenail fungus can be, and we also understand that you may have concerns that arise from taking these antifungal prescriptions. We are confident that our doctors will choose the right path of treatment for you to ensure that your health is a priority and that your fungal issues will clear over time safely.
Ready To Cure Toenail Fungus For Good?
- Jeff S.