Efficacy of a 1-week, twice-daily regimen of terbinafine 1% cream in the treatment of interdigital tinea pedis. Results of placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter trials.
BACKGROUND
Patients with tinea pedis often discontinue treatment before eradication of the fungus when their symptoms improve. The result is an incomplete cure/recurrence.


OBJECTIVE
Terbinafine, a topical fungicidal agent, was evaluated in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (159 patients) for its ability to achieve cure and relief of symptoms in the same time frame, that is, before compliance wanes.


METHODS
Mycologic characteristics (with potassium hydroxide examination and culture) and clinical signs and symptoms were assessed at baseline, at the end of a 1-week, twice-daily treatment and at 1, 3, and 5 weeks after the completion of therapy.


RESULTS
Both terbinafine and vehicle provided early relief of symptoms. However, only terbinafine gave progressive mycologic improvement such that at 5 weeks after treatment, 88% of the patients receiving terbinafine had converted from positive to negative mycology compared with 23% of the patients treated with vehicle.


CONCLUSIONS
The rapid and potent fungicidal action of terbinafine results in a high cure rate in interdigital tinea pedis with 1 week of treatment and may avoid failures caused by non-compliance.
Berman
B
B
University of California, Davis.
Ellis
C
C
Leyden
J
J
Lowe
N
N
Savin
R
R
Shupack
J
J
Stiller
M
M
Tschen
E
E
Zaias
N
N
Birnbaum
J E
JE
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009824:Ointments; D000077291:Terbinafine; D014008:Tinea Pedis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D009824:Ointments; D000077291:Terbinafine