The safety and efficacy of terbinafine in patients with diabetes and patients who are HIV positive.
Superficial fungal infections are commonly encountered in dermatologic practices. Their incidence is increasing because of the use of immunosuppressive drugs, an aging population, and the increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Topical antifungal therapy typically has been the treatment of choice for uncomplicated dermatophytoses of the skin, such as tinea pedis and tinea cruris. However, these infections may be particularly difficult to treat in high-risk patients, such as those who have diabetes or who are HIV positive. In patients with HIV, dermatophytoses tend to be more extensive and generally require oral antifungal therapy. The allylamine terbinafine has a proven safety record and no significant drug interactions. We review the clinical experience with terbinafine in diabetic and HIV-positive subjects and conclude that terbinafine is safe and has a low drug interaction potential in these high-risk cohort studies.
Elewski
B
B
University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA.
Smith
S
S
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077291:Terbinafine
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D000077291:Terbinafine