title: Oral treatment options for onychomycosis.
abstract: The author discusses the new oral antifungal agents for the treatment of onychomycosis. The history, mechanisms of action, efficacies, dosing, safety profiles, and costs of itraconazole, terbinafine, and fluconazole are reviewed. The author emphasizes that use of these effective antifungals represents an important paradigm shift for podiatric physicians away from the palliative therapy of nail debridement to a potentially curative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia 19107, USA.
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Joseph
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005533:Foot Dermatoses; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D000077291:Terbinafine
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D017964:Itraconazole; D015725:Fluconazole; D000077291:Terbinafine