What is itraconazole pulse therapy?
Background: Itraconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that has been used to treat dermatomycosis and onychomycosis using continuous therapy. More recently the drug has been used as pulse dosing.
Can itraconazole treat nail fungus?
Itraconazole tablet is only used to treat onychomycosis of the toenails. This medicine works by killing the fungus or yeast and preventing its growth. This product is available in the following dosage forms: Capsule.
What is the drug of choice of onychomycosis?
The most commonly used oral drugs for treatment of onychomycosis is griseofulvin, terbinafine, itraconazole and ketoconazole. The disadvantages of oral antifungal agents are, they require a longer treatment period and they have more side effects, e.g. terbinafine (Lamisil®).
What is pulse therapy?
Pulse therapy is defined as discontinuous/intermittent intravenous infusion of very high doses of corticosteroids along with certain immunosuppressive agents over a short period. This therapy was introduced to minimize the side effects of conventional corticosteroid therapy.
How fast does itraconazole work?
It can take up to 6 months to grow a new fingernail and up to 12 months to grow a new toenail, so you should not expect to see improvement during your treatment or for several months afterward. Continue to take itraconazole even if you do not see any improvement.
Which antifungal agent is effective for treating onychomycosis?
Systemic antifungal agents are the most effective treatment for onychomycosis, but cure rates are much less than 100%. Terbinafine (Lamisil) is the most effective systemic agent available.
Which tablet is better than itraconazole?
In this study, voriconazole was better tolerated than itraconazole for longer durations. The major treatment-limiting side effects of itraconazole were related to gastrointestinal intolerance, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Is itraconazole pulse therapy effective for the treatment of toenail onychomycosis?
In this open, randomized, parallel-group, the efficacy and safety of itraconazole pulse therapy (1 week 400 mg daily, 3 months) was evaluated in comparison with continuous terbinafine dosing (250 mg daily, 3 months) for the treatment of toenail onychomycosis.
Can itraconazole be used as a pulse dosing agent?
Background: Itraconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that has been used to treat dermatomycosis and onychomycosis using continuous therapy. More recently the drug has been used as pulse dosing.
What is the success rate of itraconazole pulse therapy for tracheostomy?
In this group of patients complete cure or marked improvement was observed in 11 of 12 patients (91.7%). Itraconazole pulse therapy was well tolerated and no serious adverse events were reported in the patients treated with this triazole.
How is distal subungual onychomycosis of the toenails treated?
The study included a total of 51 patients with distal subungual onychomycosis of the toenails confirmed by microscopy and positive culture. Twenty-six patients received itraconazole pulse therapy and 25 patients received continuous terbinafine therapy. A minimum of 50% nail involvement was a requirement for inclusion.