Systemic Treatments for Nail Fungus
In this article we have 3 standard system anti-fungals which are commonly used to combat nail fungus infections.
1. Terbinafine (Lamisil):
Terbinafine sold under the brand name Lamisil, terbinafine is the most commonly prescribed system anti-fungal for combating nail fungus infections. Terbinafine works in a similar manner to amorolfine, by attacking and destroying the fungal cell walls. Lamisil is so highly prescribed because it has very high success rates of curing dermatophyte infections, as high as 80-90%. That-being-said, Lamisil is also one of the harshest chemical drugs on the market very difficult for your body to deal with.
This difficulty is accentuated because Lamisil must be taken as a systemic cure, not a localized topical solution. Lamisil also has a host of terrible side-effects associated with its use. These include:
Fever, chills, aching muscles and general feeling of being unwell
Chest pain
Swelling of the face, tongue, lips and throat
Shortness of breath, trouble breathing and dizziness
Redness, itching or rash, peeling of the skin
Bleeding from the lips, eyes, mouth, nose or genitals
Serious liver problems accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, and/or pale bowel movements
Mouth ulcers
Swollen glands
Lack of energy
2. Itraconazole (Sporanox):
Itraconazole is another popular systemic anti-fungal medication. Frequently sold under the brand name Sporanox is not as prescribed as Lamisil because it is not as effective at dealing with dermatophytes, the most common form of nail fungus, as Lamisil. However, Sporanox is very effective at combating yeast-based infections. Itraconazole is generally better tolerated by the body than Lamisil; however, being a synthetic chemical there is numerous adverse side-effects associated with this drug.
Many of the side effects associated with Sporanox are common to both Itraconazole and Lamisil:
Loss of appetite
Rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, or wheezing
Bleeding of the lips, eyes, mouth, nose or genitals
However there are also some complications unique to Itraconazole, these include:
Unpleasant taste in your mouth
Change in menstrual pattern
Unusual thinning or loss of hair
Erectile dysfunction
Inflammation of the pancreas
Unexpected weight gain, unusual fatigue
Night sweats (waking up at night covered in cold sweat)
Oversensitivity to sunlight
Ringing in the ears
Loss of bladder control
If you experienced any of these side-effects, stop taking the medication and consult your doctor immediately.
3. Griseofulvin:
This is the least effective, 30-40% effective in clinical trials, and therefore least prescribed of the common system anti-fungals used to combat onychomycosis. This drug works by binding with the fungal cells and inhibiting cellular mitosis, preventing the reproduction of cells.
Despite low cure rates and extensive treatment times, griseofulvin, sometimes branded as Fulcin or Grisovin, remains a popular option because it is readily available and relatively cheap. However, of all the system anti-fungals griseofulvin is the only one which can be prescribed to either children (12 and under) and diabetics. Like the previous systemics, griseofulvin presents a whole host of unfortunately side-effects ranging from benign to seriously malignant:
Reduces the effectiveness of oral contraceptives (the Pill)
Confusion (impairment of common activities, i.e. driving)
Dizziness
Hives
Loss of taste sensation
Impairment of liver enzyme activity
Oral thrust (yeast infection of the mouth)
Insomnia
Intolerance of alcohol and caffeine
Sensitivity to sunlight
Swelling of the hands and feet
These Sound Horrible! Why Do Doctors Prescribe Them?
Yes, you are correct, these synthetic anti-fungals do sound quite frightening. But what you have to remember is that these drugs are not nail fungus specific medications. They are used to combat a whole range of potentially life-threatening fungal infections, including invasive infections of the lungs and intestinal tracks. Unfortunately, there simply is not the same amount of anti-fungals out there as anti-bacterial drugs. Additionally, nowhere near as much research has been, or is being done, into research and development of anti-fungals and as with anti-biotic drugs. Because of this, doctors have limited options presented to them when deciding which system anti-fungals to prescribe. Another complication presented when dealing with an onychomycosis infection is the length of the process involved in curing nail fungus. Because nails grow so slowly, and the fungal infection is usually deeply imbedded in the nail, onychomycosis can sometimes take over a year to fully heal. In some cases this could mean patients will have to be on these system anti-fungal regimes for many months.
This means that opposed to superficial skin infections, patients seeking to cure their nail fungus with system anti-fungals are more likely to experience one or more of the aforementioned side effects because of the length of time involved in treatment. In the case of more serious and potentially life-threatening fungal infections these side-effects are a price most doctors and patients are willing to pay.
The problem that exists is that the vast majority of nail fungus infections are not life-threatening. Yes in rare cases onychomycosis can cause serious complications, but for the most part nail fungus is just a highly unfortunate situation. This does not mean patients should have to live a life of shame because of their nail fungus! It means alternative treatments must be sought.
Is it possible that modern medical science does not have ALL the answers? Of course, nothing is ever perfect and perhaps nail fungus is an example of when modern medicine does not present the best possible solution. Unfortunately, the medical establishments, and therefore most doctors, are extremely resistant to natural cures for common ailments.
Why? The answer is both simple and troubling…money.
