Oral treatment for fungal toe nail infection

I have been infected with HCV for approximately 25 years and have normal LFTs.  My last biopsy (2 years ago) showed stage 1 liver disease and no obvious deterioration from 10 years earlier.  I have declined treatment.  

I have suffered with a worsening fungal toe nail infection for at least 15 years.  I was cautioned against oral treatment some years ago by my GP.  In the last year the condition has worsened and has affected all the toe nails on the left foot and my big toe nail on the right foot.  The condition of my big toe nails is very poor and now the nails are so affected that they are becoming ingrown and becoming infected.  My GP has now said that the only thing we can try is Terbinafine which can be toxic to the liver.  I am tempted to try this as my quality of life is becoming diminished by the pain and appearance of my feet.

I have tried several topical treatments and there has been no improvement.  Has anyone HCV+ used this treatment?  Does it work?  Did it affect your liver?  Does anyone know of any other less toxic treatment that works?

Thank you for reading this

Sue

[ksk3926]

Try soaking your feet in listerine for half an hour everynight. Start with a few weeks and see how they look.

[ksk3926]

Use the original amber colored listerine. Don't use the blue stuff or else you'll get lovely blue nails.

[Andiamo1]

Is it the alchohol in listerine that kills the fungus or something else?

[ksk3926]

I'm not sure what kills it off, maybe it is the alcohol, maybe not. I heard about it from a manicurist. I've been reading some of the other threads and apparently colloidal silver is also a great cure for nail fungus! The folks on this board are such funny people, I guess that's why I keep coming back. Kathy

[sunflowersue88]

I am not sure if you are saying that Listerine has worked for you?  Could you please clarify this?  

[desrt]

My family doctor has advised me not to take Lamisil, even though my ALT/AST are in normal range and I've been undetected for 4+ years.

[ksk3926]

I've been soaking for a few weeks now and my nails are looking much better.

[meki]

OK - I don't know if this helps or not - but I have had to take DIFLUCAN almost every freaking week of the 24 week TX and I also had to double dose/triple dose it when taking SMZ TMP antibiotics for a staph infection.

Now - I realize there is quite a height difference from toes to where the Diflucan was working for me... But I think they are in the same types of families.

The Diflucan did not give me and still does not give me any side effects.

However - listen to your doctor - and look around online at side effects. Read the trials and see what percentage of people reacted and how.

I get as much information as I can about a product - I find out what levels are needed to treat - how many were affected, how people reacted, how long it has been on the market. I read the doctor's literature on the RX, etc.

Then I make a decision based on what is important... Is it important to you to be able to function properly? How sick might you get? Is it reversible - will your doctor monitor you? Etc. Etc.

Good Luck.

[Catll]

If I remember properly you can use Hydrogen Peroxide H2O2 as an external solution.

How it works:
When it contacts with bacterial arias it reacts right away.
H202= H20 + O - this

[orphanedhawk]

Have you tried Australian tea oil? I've never needed it for my toes but I use it on tender spots in my gums, until I see the dentist. Id try using a q-tip and soak it, see if you can't swash it under your nails. Try it for 3 days, then take a break. And do you wear socks and shoes or sandals? The sun can be a potent healer too.  Good luck.

[jaroman]

I took Lamisil a few years ago and it made my LFT go way up.  Doc pulled me off and that was before I knew I had HCV.  I don't think we can take these meds.
Diflucan wont work for nail fungus.  It's for yeast infections-vaginal usually.
I also had to take that for about 25% of the time that I was on SOC.  It kept the yeast in check and did not elevate LFT.
Good luck.
Tea tree oil can be used to help prevent nail infections, but I doubt it will clear you now.

[scubadiver30]

Hello there
Pls do not use Lamisil or any oral antifungal because it can do much damage to you liver.  I took just one pill of Propecia (and my LFTs raised to 300). I was always in the 90's range prior to tx.
I know, is not an antifungal, but the warning in the prospect about chronic liver disease is the same. I have suffered intermitent bouts of tinea pedis (athlete's foot) and the best remedy has always been miconazol nitrate (Daktarin or similar), and washing my feet with Betadine scrub (the same kind surgeons use preop). My big toe nails show the scars :-( Now I'm gonna try that Listerine suggestion to see if it works permanently
But seriously,  I don't understand why the fungus in your nails is affecting your QOL and HEP C, a potentially deadly disease does not bother you at all.
Have you considered the possibility that HCV is weakening your inmune system so it cannot fight infections, fungus or bacteria?
When is started tx, some things cleared up (like spider veins in my ankles and a few warts flared up but then cleared on their own). I had problems yes, but now, 6 weeks post tx, I'm getting back to normal.
You shouldn't dismiss IFN/Riba just yet.
Good luck on the listerine..I'm gonna try it too to see if it works
Saludos
scuba

[orphanedhawk]

Hi,
      I just spoke with a friend who's had toe fungus on and off over the years. He said iodine is the best, cheapest treatment he's found. When it shows up, he dabs iodine on for up to one week or 10 days.
       I always bring iodine with me to the tropics and put it on cuts and have never had a fungal problem of any kind. Good luck.