Now, there is hope. Patients whose fingernails were affected needed only six weeks of treatment to achieve similar benefits. There is also an intermittent dosing approach which is quite popular. A one-week per month treatment schedule for three or four months may generate a slightly better response rate than the daily therapy. This method is also less expensive, requiring half the doses of continuous therapy.
Studies have yet to be conducted regarding intermittent dosing of terbinafine.
Currently, research is being conducted to determine the effectiveness of fluconazole administered intermittently for one day a week until the affected nail grows out. Results are expected soon. The American Academy of Dermatology is the world's largest society of dermatologists. American Academy of Dermatology, 1999. All rights reserved.