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Oral terbinafine (Lamisil ® ) in the short‐term treatment of fungal infections of the skin: results of a post‐marketing surveillance study
Author(s) -
Binder M.,
Nell G.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
mycoses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1439-0507
pISSN - 0933-7407
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0507.1999.00515.x
Subject(s) - terbinafine , medicine , erythema , dermatology , adverse effect , clinical trial , mycosis , antifungal , surgery , itraconazole
Oral terbinafine (Lamisil ® , Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland) is an effective therapy for fungal infections of the skin and nails. A post‐marketing surveillance study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of oral terbinafine. A total of 454 patients with clinically and mycologically confirmed superficial fungal infections of the skin were enrolled from 79 dermatology clinics. Patients received oral terbinafine (250 mg day −1 ) for 2 weeks. Specific signs and symptoms were assessed by standard questionnaire before, immediately after, and 4 weeks after treatment. Observed improvements in patients after 2 weeks treatment were: erythema 81%, blistering 33%, exudation 50%, scaling 89%, pruritus 83%. After 4 weeks treatment, erythema was absent in 85% of patients, blistering and exudation in 99.7%, scaling in 82%, and pruritus in 94%. Overall clinical efficacy was assessed as good to excellent in 97% of patients. Adverse effects – mainly gastrointestinal and minor skin rashes – were reported in 5.3% of patients. The results of this study confirm that oral terbinafine is safe and highly effective for the short‐term treatment of fungal skin infections.