Lamisil® for the Treatment of Fungal Infections

Treatment Options

Lamisil® for the Treatment of Fungal Infections

Fungal infections can be stubborn and difficult to cure. Lamisil® is a medication for the treatment of various fungal infections.
Lamisil® treatment options:

Medication	Reason	Prescription	Over-the-counter (OTC)
Lamisil® Tablets	For the treatment of fungal infection of the fingernails or toenails	Yes	No
Lamisil® 1% Solution (not for eye, mouth or intravaginal use)	For the treatment of fungal skin infections	Yes	No
Lamisil® 1% DermGel™ (not for eye, mouth or intravaginal use)	For the treatment of fungal skin infections, athlete’s foot, ringworm or jock itch	Yes	No
Lamisil® 1% Cream	For the treatment of athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm	No	Yes

Things to Consider

Lamisil^® is an antifungal medication.
It is important that you take all of the medication prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better.
Store medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Results

Will I live longer if I use Lamisil^®?

There is no scientific evidence that taking Lamisil^® will lengthen your life.

Will the use of Lamisil^® for the treatment of fungal infections improve my quality of life?

Yes, without treatment fungal infections tend to get worse, infecting more of the nail or surrounding skin.

Does the use of Lamisil^® for the treatment of fungal infections make my symptoms better?

Yes, the symptoms may begin to improve before the infection is completely treated, that is why it is important to take the medication as prescribed for you.

Safety

How safe is this for me?

The safety of any form of Lamisil^® has not been established in pediatric the population individuals.Lamisil^® in any form has not been recommended for nursing mothers, or for individuals with chronic or active liver disease or renal impairment.

Minor reported complications:

Medication	Minor complications
Lamisil® Tablets	Diarrhea Abdominal pain Nausea/Vomiting Rash
Lamisil® 1% Solution, Lamisil® 1% DermGel™ and Lamisil® 1% Cream (not for eye, mouth or intravaginal use)	Redness Itching Burning Blistering

Major reported complications:

Rare cases of liver failure, some leading to death or liver transplant, have occurred with the use of Lamisil^® Tablets for the treatment of fungal infection of the nails in individuals with and without pre-existing liver disease.

Comparison

Alternative treatment (behavioral modification) includes:

Wear shower sandals or shower shoes when using a public pool or shower and allow them to dry between uses. Most types of fungus live in moist environments.
Wash and dry hands and feet thoroughly.
Avoid injuring your nail. Cutting nails too short is a common cause of nail injury.
Wear dry, properly fitted shoes that allow air to circulate around your feet. Injury to the tips of the toes because of tight shoes may be the biggest single factor that leads to a fungal nail infection returning.

Cost

The cost of Lamisil^® tablets for the treatment for fungal infections can vary from $284.32 to $1,210 for each prescription.

The cost of Lamisil^® solution and Lamisil^® gel for the treatment for fungal infections can vary from $32 to $84.79 for each prescription.

The cost of Lamisil^® cream for the treatment for fungal infections can vary from $9 to $51.25 for each treatment.

The cost may or may not be covered by insurance.

Sources

The following are off-site links :

American Academy of Dermatology. (2006). Public resource center. Nail fungus. Retrieved October 10, 2007 from http://www.aad.org/public/Publications/pamphlets/NailFungus.htm.
KidsHealth. (2007, September). Fungal infections. Retrieved October 10, 2007 from http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/skin/fungus.html.
Medline Plus®. (2006, October). Medical encyclopedia. Fungal infections. Retrieved October 10, 2007 from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001330.htm.
Novartis. (2007). Lamisil^® tablets. Retrieved October 10, 2007 from http://www.lamisil.com/index.jsp?scs=PharmaUS.
U. S. Food and Drug Administration. (2004, January). Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Lamisil^®. Retrieved October 10, 2007 from http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm?fuseaction=Search.Overview&DrugName=LAMISIL.
U. S. Food and Drug Administration. (2001, May). MedWatch. Lamisil^® tablets. Retrieved October 10, 2007 from http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2001/lamisil_deardoc.pdf.
Yahoo! Health. (2004, September). Fungal nail infections. Retrieved October 10, 2007 from http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/hw268101;_ylt=Ap4lOtB7UOzRkwkpKnLLHLamxbAB.

Next Review Date

10/10/2008

This document has been classified as public information.

Page modified:February 14, 2008