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Terbinafine tablets for fungal nails in child - risks? Anyone used?

5 replies

NailTreatment · 08/11/2024 10:17

Hi, my 10yo has had really stubborn fungal toenails (8 of them!) for the last 6 months or so. We have been seeing a private podiatrist who recommended urea past treatment and Amoralfine nail lacquer. We have been doing those diligently (as well as Lamisil) and a couple of the nails have cleared up but 4 are really stubborn still.

The podiatrist cuts out a lot of the soft nail when we see them but has now said that terbinafine tablets might be the best option to sort it out.

The thing is there is a small risk to liver function and DC would need blood tests when taking it. I'm keen to continue as we are as the GP said they would not give it to their child which has really put me off, but also if we're in the same boat in another 6 months should I consider it? Otherwise it won't just 'go away' on its own.

Would like to know if anyone's been in the same boat?

The blurb on Terbinafine says "There are many non-prescription and prescription only topical preparations available, but toenail fungus is very hard to eradicate using creams and lotions. The fungal spores grow under an infected nail which makes it extremely difficult to treat as topically applied medicines cannot penetrate or get under the nail easily."

DC doesn't really understand why it needs risky treatment as the fungal nails themselves aren't a risk to their health, but I don't want them to go on forever.

OP posts:
Mittens67 · 08/11/2024 10:29

I spoke to a gp about this recently after a nurse prescriber had given it to me. I am a retired nurse myself and had my doubts about taking it so I asked him if he would ever take it personally and he said that having worked in wards of people with liver failure he would never risk it just for fungal nails.
I persevered with a podiatrist cutting and cleaning etc and the infection is now gone. Took about ten months.

NailTreatment · 08/11/2024 10:48

Eek. I'm risk-averse but at the same time I'd hate him to have this his whole life. It's tiring treating it (the urea paste needs soaking off, scraping and replacing with plasters every night - we do this for a fortnight at a time) and then the Curanail is weekly but we try and put athlete's foot cream on too. Plus washing DC's socks in a separate hot wash!

I'm aware that HCPs will see all the negative side effects and not necessarily the successful treatments but it does make me pause!

OP posts:
fairydell21 · 08/11/2024 12:00

Sorry no advice on the tablets but have you looked at Clearanail? It's a machine that drills tiny holes in the nail so topical treatments can get through. You can look at their website for podiatrists that offer it. I recommend combining it with Neem oil.. smells AWFUL but really works!

Bigparrot · 08/11/2024 12:08

I tried the creams etc and the drilling in to the nail - which was awful. I'm so squeamish.

What worked in the end was laser treatment with a Lunula laser.
I did all the separate washing of socks, kept nails short and used an antifungal cream in between treatments too.

It's gone and hasn't come back.

NailTreatment · 08/11/2024 12:15

Yeah I don't think my 10yo would be up for drilling! But I'd never heard of it so I'll ask!

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