Diflucan for Fungal fingernail infection

[Zurpaul5]

Hello, I have a fingernail fungal infection and have been prescribed Diflucan 150 mg blue capsule, 1 per week for upto 6 months, or until new nails grow. Has anyone been treated for same..as I can only find info of Diflucan on vaginal thrush, meningitis etc in research. I thought a scraping of the debris would be taken or even referred to a dermatologist..and reveal the root cause of the infection. I am not a frequent visitor to Drs so did not want to question too much.

[wobblybee Administrator Pioneer]

Diflucan is also known as Fluconazole, it can be prescribed for fungal nail infections.

You might find the following information helpful

Diagnosis

Your doctor will examine your nails. He or she may also take some nail clippings or scrape debris from under your nail and send the sample to a lab to identify the type of fungus causing the infection.

Other conditions, such as psoriasis, can mimic a fungal infection of the nail. Microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria also can infect nails. Knowing the cause of your infection helps determine the best course of treatment.

Treatment

Fungal nail infections can be difficult to treat. Talk with your doctor if self-care strategies and over-the-counter (nonprescription) products haven't helped. Treatment depends on the severity of your condition and the type of fungus causing it. It can take months to see results. And even if your nail condition improves, repeat infections are common.

Medications

Your doctor may prescribe antifungal drugs that you take orally or apply to the nail. In some situations, it helps to combine oral and topical antifungal therapies.

Oral antifungal drugs. These drugs are often the first choice because they clear the infection more quickly than do topical drugs. Options include terbinafine (Lamisil) and itraconazole (Sporanox). These drugs help a new nail grow free of infection, slowly replacing the infected part.

You typically take this type of drug for six to 12 weeks. But you won't see the end result of treatment until the nail grows back completely. It may take four months or longer to eliminate an infection. Treatment success rates with these drugs appear to be lower in adults over age 65.

Copied from mayoclinic.com Fungal Nail Infections