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Nail fungus pills

Medical expert of the article

Dermatologist
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

Pharmacology offers a wide range of tablets for nail fungus. They have different degrees of effectiveness, different methods of application and impact on the pathogen. All tablets used are toxic to the liver to varying degrees and their effectiveness against nail fungus is significantly lower than that of topical preparations (cream, drops, ointment, varnish).

Before you start fighting nail fungus, you need to have an idea of what kind of disease it is and how dangerous it is. The manifestations of this unpleasant disease depend on the depth and extent of the lesion. Fungus that has settled on the skin of the feet and toenails causes many problems.

The first signs of the disease may be cracks on the feet, peeling skin, itching, and later yellowing and brittleness of the nail. This is due to the fact that the fungus affects the nail plate, thereby making it more fragile and yellow. Such signs not only look unaesthetic, but also cause a lot of problems. Over time, if this disease is not treated, the fungus mycelium spreads to the nail plate not only on the feet, but also on the hands. Internal organs can also be affected by the fungus, which is extremely rare.

Today, there are many medications that can help in the fight against nail fungus, but self-medication is not recommended, as this may not fix, but worsen the situation. First of all, at the slightest inconvenience, you need to contact a dermatologist, take all the necessary tests and then receive comprehensive treatment, which will give positive dynamics.

All medications for the treatment of nail fungus can be divided into internal and external use:

  1. Internal - tablets for nail fungus, which are prescribed to patients with weakened immunity, diabetes, people over 50, in case of very rapid development of fungus or with a very large affected area. The action of the oral drug must be combined with local agents, such as creams or ointments.
  2. External use - cream, drops, varnish, ointment. Varnish and drops are applied directly to the nail, and creams and ointments are more convenient and effective for treating foot fungus.

Indications for the use of tablets for nail fungus

Indications for prescribing tablets for nail fungus are mycoses of the nails of the hands or feet in combination with fungal lesions of the organs, fungal lesions with complications.

The tablets must be taken until complete remission.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Tablets for nail fungus, when they enter the body, are absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and the active substances are carried throughout the body by the blood, which causes the cessation of further reproduction of the fungus.

The advantage of the tablets is that they are able to completely cure not only nail fungus, but also mycoses of other localizations, because they contain components that destroy the walls of fungal spores, thereby destroying the fungus.

The pharmacodynamics of the preparations for nail fungus consists in the destruction of the walls of fungal spores and blocking the synthesis of fungal sterols. It has a fungicidal effect on dermatophytes, some domorphic fungi and their forms, mold fungi. Depending on the type of fungus, the preparation has a fungicidal or fungistatic effect.

After administration, the drug is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and quickly penetrates the dermal layer of the skin and nail plate. The drug can penetrate the secretion of the sebaceous glands, accumulate in hair follicles, hair, subcutaneous tissue. Substances are biotransformed in the liver with the formation of inactive metabolites and are excreted in the urine (about 80%) and feces (20%). The age of patients does not affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs, only excretion may decrease in case of liver or kidney damage.

Terbinafine

Antifungal agent for systemic use. Active against diseases caused by pathogens Trichophyton, Microsporum canis, Epidermophyton floccosum.

Contraindications to the use of Terbinafine tablets are limited to hypersensitivity to the drug.

Terbinafine is very well tolerated, and side effects are mild and transient.

According to the instructions, Terbinafine tablets are taken 1 tablet per day. The duration of treatment depends on the nature of the disease and its severity.

Packaging: 250 mg tablets No. 10 in a blister.

The shelf life of the drug is 3 years.

Irunin

Synthetic antimycotic for systemic use. Effective in treating fungus of not only nails and skin, but also internal organs.

Irunin is contraindicated for people with hypersensitivity to Itroconazole, in the first trimester of pregnancy. It is not recommended to combine with simvastatin, lovastatin, triazole, cisapride.

For fungal diseases, Irunin is used 1 tablet per day for 15 days.

Shelf life: 2 years.

Fluconazole

Antifungal drug for systemic use.

Indications: cryptococcosis, treatment of HIV carriers and AIDS patients, patients after organ transplantation and receiving immunosuppressant therapy. Fluconazole is also used to treat candidiasis, dermatomycosis and endemic mycoses.

It is not recommended to use the drug in case of hypersensitivity to fluconazole or azole compounds, concomitant use of terfenadine, cisapride, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The daily dose of fluconazole depends on the nature and severity of the infection. The recommended dose for nail fungus is 150 mg per week (3 tablets per week). Treatment should be continued until a healthy nail grows, on average 3-6 months.

Side effects may include headache, diarrhea, nausea, and sometimes vomiting.

In case of overdose, gastric lavage is recommended.

The use of nail fungus tablets during pregnancy should be avoided, except for fungal infections that threaten the life of the unborn child or mother. During breastfeeding, the drug is found in the same concentrations in milk as in the blood.

Children can take fluconazole after 6 years of age.

The shelf life of the drug is 2 years.

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Orungal

Antifungal agent for systemic use.

Indicated for use in dermatomycosis, fungal keratitis, vaginal candidiasis, systemic mycoses.

Orungal capsules are contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to the drug or its components, heart failure, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Take 200 mg (2 tablets) of Orungal per day for 7 days.

Side effects: rarely swelling, minor stomach upset.

In case of overdose, it is necessary to wash out the stomach and drink activated charcoal.

Shelf life: 3 years.

Lamisil

Antifungal drug for systemic use with a broad spectrum of antifungal action against infections of the skin, hair, and nails.

Indications: Fungal infections of the skin and nails caused by Trichophyton, Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum.

The use of Lamisil is not recommended for patients with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.

Adults are prescribed 1 tablet of Lamisil once a day. The duration of use depends on the nature and severity of the disease and can be from 6 weeks to 3 months.

The use of nail fungus tablets Lamisil during pregnancy is not advisable. Also, the components of the drug penetrate into breast milk, so during breastfeeding, a woman should not receive treatment with this drug.

Overdose may cause headache, nausea, dizziness. Treatment in this case consists of taking activated charcoal.

The side effects of the drug are mild and pass quickly.

The shelf life of Lamisil is 3 years.

Lamicon

An antimycotic for systemic use in cases of fungal infection of the nails, scalp, and skin.

The use of Lamicon is contraindicated for patients with hypersensitivity to terbinafine or other components of the drug.

The duration of treatment with the drug depends on the nature and severity of the disease from 2 to 12 weeks. Lamicon is taken 1 tablet of 250 mg once a day.

The side effects of the drug are minor and not particularly noticeable to the patient.

Overdose may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness. If one of the above symptoms appears, it is necessary to wash out the stomach and take activated carbon.

It is not recommended to take Lamicon during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Shelf life is 2 years.

Exifin

Antifungal drug for systemic use for the treatment of skin, hair and nail infections caused by Trichophyton, Microsporum, Candida, Pityrosporum.

The use of Exifin is not recommended for patients with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.

Adults are recommended to take 1 tablet of 250 mg once a day. Treatment lasts from 2-6 weeks to 3 months.

Overdose causes headache, nausea, dizziness. In this case, it is necessary to take activated carbon.

Side effects often include loss of appetite, headache, taste disturbances, and nausea.

It is not recommended to use during pregnancy.

The shelf life of the drug is 3 years.

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Pimafucin

A broad-spectrum antibacterial and fungicidal drug, sensitive to Candida albicans fungi.

Adults are recommended to take 1 tablet 4 times a day for 2-3 months, supplementing the treatment with local application of Pimafucin cream for a better effect.

The drug can be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women.

The drug Pimafucin contains lactose, so it is not recommended for patients with rare congenital intolerance to this substance. People with diabetes should also take the drug with caution.

There is no data on overdose.

Side effects include nausea and diarrhea, which occur in the first days of use and go away on their own during treatment.

The shelf life of the drug is 4 years.

Furacilin

Antiseptic and disinfectant preparation for solution preparation.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.

It is used to treat anaerobic infections and inflammatory processes.

Furacilin is used in the form of an aqueous solution. To prepare it, 1 tablet is diluted in 100 ml of saline or distilled water. Take 15-minute baths of this solution with the affected parts (arms, legs).

Side effects of the drug may manifest themselves in the form of allergic reactions on the skin, which disappear after stopping the use of the drug.

Overdose results in increased intensity of side effects.

The shelf life of Furacilin is 5 years.

In order not to get infected with nail fungus, you need to take care of your immunity. Since with a strong immune system, infection is less likely. If the body is weakened, the fungus spreads very quickly and it becomes difficult to fight it. In order not to fall into the risk group for infection with fungus, it is enough to follow a few rules:

  • Bathhouse, sauna, swimming pool – in these rooms it is necessary to wear closed rubber shoes;
  • Wear socks made only from natural materials, not synthetics, and change them daily;
  • It is not advisable to wear someone else's shoes;
  • After water procedures, dry your feet well and make sure that they always remain dry, if possible.


Attention!

To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Nail fungus pills" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.

Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.

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