Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

Curcuminoid-Mediated Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy on a Murine Model of Oral Candidiasis
Published on: October 27, 2023
Evidence-based optimal fluconazole dosing regimen for onychomycosis treatment
Aditya K Gupta1, Chris Drummond-Main, Maryse Paquet
1Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. agupta@execulink.com
Background:
Fluconazole could be an alternative to terbinafine and itraconazole for onychomycosis treatment. However, it is difficult to determine the optimal dosing regimen due to the variability in causative agents, dosing regimens and cure rates in clinical trials. By restricting the data to dermatophyte onychomycosis, we aimed to identify an optimal fluconazole dosing regimen.
Methods:
We searched the PubMed, EMBASE and CENTRAL databases and the reference sections of published literature for clinical trials on fluconazole monotherapy for culture-proven dermatophyte onychomycosis. Relationships between fluconazole doses, cure rates and duration of therapy were analyzed.
Results:
Longer treatments, but not higher weekly fluconazole doses, resulted in better cure rates for toenail, and possibly fingernail, onychomycosis. Consequently, mean mycological and clinical cure rates for treatments lasting 6 months or less and more than 6 months were significantly different for toenail onychomycosis. Clinical studies including participants with nondermatophyte mold, Candida species, or negative culture onychomycosis only used fluconazole therapy for 6 months or less. Thus, the relationship between cure rates and duration of treatment could not be confirmed for all causative agents.
Conclusion:
The lowest dose of 150 mg weekly for more than 6 months is recommended for onychomycosis.
Related Concept Videos
Antifungal Agents
Dosage Regimen: Fixed Dose
Fixed-dose regimens can be used for various routes of administration, including intravenous (IV) injections and oral medications. For IV administration, a predetermined amount of the drug is...
Dosage Regimen: Multiple Oral Dosage
Dosage Regimen: Individualization
Drug Dosage Regimen: Overview
Typically, the starting dose and dosing interval are guided by the manufacturer's recommendations based on clinical trials conducted during and after drug...
Rational Dosage Regimen: Maintenance Dose and Loading Dose
In most cases, drugs are administered repetitively or infused continuously to maintain a steady-state concentration in the body. At a steady state,...
