Comparison of one week of oral terbinafine (250 mg/day) with four weeks of treatment with clotrimazole 1% cream in interdigital tinea pedis.
Treatment of interdigital tinea pedis often involves long-term therapy with topically applied preparations. Effective oral preparations, such as the allylamine terbinafine (Lamisil), taken over a shorter period, could provide a useful therapeutic alternative. A total of 269 patients from five centres with clinically diagnosed interdigital tinea pedis were entered into this double-blind, randomized, double-dummy, parallel-group study comparing oral terbinafine 250 mg once daily for 1 week with 1% clotrimazole (Canesten) cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks. Of these, 137 patients were evaluable for efficacy (confirmed dermatophyte infection by microscopy and culture): 63 terbinafine and 74 clotrimazole. At week 4, the mycological cure rates (negative culture at week 1 and negative results on microscopy and culture at week 4 onwards) were very similar (71% for clotrimazole and 72% for terbinafine). There was a faster response rate in the terbinafine group with respect to signs and symptoms at week 1. Both treatments were equally well tolerated; adverse events occurred equally in the two groups. In conclusion, oral terbinafine in a single daily dose of 250 mg for 1 week is as effective and as well tolerated as 1% clotrimazole cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks in the treatment of interdigital tinea pedis.
Barnetson
R S
RS
Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW, Australia.
Marley
J
J
Bullen
M
M
Brookman
S
S
Cowen
P
P
Ellis
D
D
Williams
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001315:Australia; D003022:Clotrimazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004821:Epidermophyton / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009824:Ointments; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077291:Terbinafine; D014008:Tinea Pedis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D009824:Ointments; D003022:Clotrimazole; D000077291:Terbinafine