Key points
- Antifungals are medications used to treat fungal infections.
- They tend to cause more side effects and often need to be taken for longer periods than other antimicrobials.
- Use antifungals as directed by your healthcare provider or follow directions on the medication label.
- Talk to your healthcare provider if an infection is not improving with antifungals.
- With few treatment options, new antifungal development is needed.
Overview
Antifungals are medications that treat fungal diseases by killing or stopping the growth of fungi in humans, animals, and plants. Antifungals are a type of antimicrobial.
Antifungals are available in different forms:
- Topical, such as creams, ointments, shampoo, or powder
- Oral, such as pills or liquids
- Intravenous (IV)
Some types of topical antifungals are sold in pharmacies over the counter and should be taken exactly as directed on their labels. Prescription antifungals should be used as directed by a healthcare provider. If the medication causes serious side effects or does not work, talk to a healthcare provider.
Prolonged use and side effects
People often experience the effects of antifungal medications differently compared to other antimicrobials. They may need to take them for a long time, sometimes months or years, to treat a fungal infection. Antifungal medications also tend to cause more and worse side effects among more people than other antimicrobials.
Common side effects include:
- Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Headaches
- Skin rashes or irritation
More severe side effects include liver toxicity with certain azoles and kidney damage with amphotericin B.
Appropriate use
Antifungals should always be taken as directed by a healthcare provider or product label instructions. Inappropriate use can delay or prevent treatment of the infection, increase side effects, or contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance.
Always take the prescribed amount of antifungal medication. It is important to continue taking the medication the whole time you were instructed to even if you feel better. If an antifungal causes serious side effects or symptoms do not improve, talk to a healthcare provider.
Topical antifungals and corticosteroids
If you buy a topical antifungal over the counter, choose a product that does not contain a corticosteroid or steroid. Corticosteroid and steroids are often combined in topical antifungals and can cause side effects and worsen fungal skin infections.
This information is not widely known. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are concerned about a prescribed topical antifungal.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Sometimes it is challenging to find the dose (amount) of antifungal that can treat an infection and minimize side effects. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is a practice healthcare providers use to help find and adjust doses. The healthcare provider monitors the level of drug in the patient's bloodstream, their treatment progress, and side effects at specific times.
The cells in fungi are similar to the cells in the human body. Medications that harm fungal cells can harm people too. At the same time, fungi can cause severe infections in any part of the body, including the brain and bloodstream.
