photo credit: (nutmeg)
Onychomycosis or most commonly referred to as nail fungus infections are very difficult to treat because they love to live in dark and moist environments, which is why the nail bed is the perfect spot for them to live. The nail itself acts as a protective barrier, treatment and medication will take a while. Treating a fairly new fungus growth is easier but if left untreated, it will spread to your other nails and may break off. Or other people may catch it.

We do have a wide variety of nail fungus medicine available in the market. The most effective ones are only available with a doctor’s prescription with some minor side effects.

There are over-the-counter fungal medication, homeopathic and herbal treatments as well.

Lamisil
Probably, the best known nail fungus medicine is Lamisil or its active ingredient known as
terbinafine hydrochloride, but is only available through a prescription. This is taken orally, once a day for two to three months depending on what you doctor prescribes. Lamaism still continues to work for the next 9 – 12 months to rid of the remaining fungi present in the body to prevent reoccurrence.

Drug medication to treat nail conditions brought about by fungus is expensive. You can find online prices at a discounted rate for a months worth at around $250. Some people would even pay up to $1000 just to get their monthly nail fungus medicine. According to Lamisil’s website, a majority of health insurance companies will cover the expenses, but regular patients say that they have been getting the runaround saying that they may or may not be covered. Some health insurance organizations do cover part of the medication costs, though.

As with any other prescription drug, side effects do occur. Upset stomach, nausea and diarrhea are some of the minor side effects. But if you currently have liver and kidney problems, conflicting reports do say that it may worsen the condition. So your doctor may require you to do regular liver or kidney tests while taking this medication just to be on the safe side.

Lamisil does carry a topical version with fewer side effects which the oral medication may have.

Sopranox
Sopranox or Itraconazole is a doctor prescribed nail fungus medication which is intended to be often used but the dosage is dependent on how severe your infection is. Sopranox capsule intake may vary from a weekly once or twice day, then stopped for 3 weeks and then resume for another week. See your doctor for the correct dosage and frequency for your particular nail fungus case.

FDA Warning
In 2001, The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued a health warning that the use of Sopranox and Lamisil tablets for onychomycosis, or nail fungus.
The oral Sopranox drug has been shown to have a small but real risk of congestive heart failure, but the oral version of both Sopranox and Lamisil nail fungus medicines is associated with serious toxicity and failure of the liver and death.