Fingernail fungus infections occur when fungi infect one or more fingernails. Symptoms include nail discoloration and thickening, crumbling nail edges and pain, according to MayoClinic.com. When deciding what treatment course to pursue, your doctor works with you to develop an individualized plan based on the severity of the infection, medical history and current medications taken.
Terbinafine
Terbinafine, an oral medication available via prescription, treats fingernail fungus by blocking fungi growth. Doctors typically prescribe terbinafine for use once daily for six weeks to treat a fingernail fungus infection, according to PubMedHealth, a website of the National Institutes of Health. Further, PubMedHealth reports that you may not observe positive results until a few months after completion of the round of terbinafine.
Itraconazole
Itraconazole, an oral medication also available via prescription, takes care of fingernail fungus by slowing the fungi growth causing the infection. Itraconazole comes in either capsule or liquid form. To treat fingernail fungus infections, the course of treatment with itraconazole capsules involves taking it twice daily for one week, no capsules for three weeks and again twice daily for one additional week. Doctors' prescriptions for the liquid form of itraconazole vary from taking the dose once or twice daily and continuing medication use from one to four weeks. PubMedHealth warns that use of itraconazole may cause congestive heart failure.
Ciclopirox
Ciclopirox, a topical antifungal nail polish, remedies fingernail fungus infections by stopping nail fungus growth. MayoClinic.com notes that ciclopirox works best for mild to moderate cases of fingernail fungus infections. Ciclopirox is applied daily to the infected nails and the surrounding areas. The medication buildup on the nails is removed weekly with alcohol. MedlinePlus, a website of the National Institutes of Health, reports that ciclopirox may not completely cure fingernail fungus. Further, it may take up to six months of use before positive results appear.
Surgery
For serious cases of fingernail fungus infection, surgery may be necessary, particularly if the infected nail causes pain. Surgery removes the infected nail. It may take up to a full year for a replacement nail to grow, according to MayoClinic.com.
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