amorolfine

Amorolfine is an antifungal (or antifungal) drug belonging to the class of morpholines. Amorolfine is a drug used for the treatment of dermatomycoses and onychomycoses (respectively, for mycosis of the skin and nails).

Amorolfine - Chemical Structure

In fact, it is available in the form of pharmaceutical formulations suitable for application on the skin (cream) and application on the nails (medicated enamel).

Indications

For what it uses

The use of amorolfine is indicated for the treatment of:

Tinea pedis;
Tinea cruris;
Tinea inguinalis;
Tinea corporis;
Tinea manuum;
Candidiasis of the skin;
Pityriasis versicolor;
Onychomycosis.

Warnings

Preparations based on amorolfine must not come into contact with the eyes or mucous membranes.

During treatment with amorolfine-based medicated enamel, no other nail polish or cosmetic products should be used on the nails to be treated.

Amorolfine cream should not be used in babies and children.

Interactions

There are currently no known drug interactions between amorolfine preparations and other drugs.

In any case, it is necessary to inform your doctor if you are taking - or have recently been taken - drugs of any kind, including non-prescription medicines and herbal and / or homeopathic products.

Side effects

Amorolfine can cause some types of side effects, although not all patients experience them. This depends on the sensitivity that each person has towards the drug. Therefore, it is not said that the undesirable effects are all manifested with the same intensity in each patient.

The main adverse effects that may occur during treatment with amorolfine are listed below.

Side effects that may occur following the use of amorolfine based cream

When using amorolfine as a cream, the following side effects may occur:

Allergic reactions in sensitive subjects, including contact dermatitis;
Skin irritation;
Redness;
Itch;
Skin burning.

Side effects that may occur following the use of amorolfine-based medicated enamel

During the treatment of onychomycosis with amorolfine-based medicated enamel, side effects may occur, such as:

Allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, including contact dermatitis;
Nail discoloration;
Increase of nail fragility;
Broken nails;
Burning in the area around the treated nail.

Action mechanism

Amorolfine exerts its antifungal action by inhibiting a particular enzyme called squalene epoxidase. This enzyme is involved in the synthesis process of ergosterol (a sterol that forms the plasma membrane of fungal cells).

In particular, the task of squalene epoxidase is to convert squalene into squalene epoxide which - following other enzymatic reactions - will then be transformed into ergosterol.

Inhibition of squalene epoxidase causes:

A reduction of the total ergosterol content within the fungal cell membrane, this causes alterations in the permeability of the membrane itself and malfunctions of the membrane proteins involved in nutrient transport and in the regulation of cellular pH;
An accumulation of squalene inside the fungal cell which - when it reaches too high quantities - becomes toxic to the cell itself.

In this way, the fungal cell is destined to meet certain death.

Mode of Use - Posology

As mentioned above, amorolfine is available for the treatment of fungal infections of the skin in the form of cream, and for the treatment of onychomycosis in the form of medicated enamel.

For the success of the treatment, it is necessary to follow the indications provided by the doctor, both as regards the amount of drug to be used, and as regards the duration of the treatment itself.

Below, some indications are given on the doses of amorolfine usually used in therapy.

Treatment of cutaneous mycoses

For the treatment of cutaneous mycoses the amorolfine-based cream is used.

It is recommended to perform an application daily, directly on the area affected by the infection. The treatment must be carried out continuously and must be continued for a few days after complete recovery.

In any case, the duration of treatment depends substantially on the type of fungus that caused the infection and on the site in which the mycosis developed.

Treatment of mycosis of the nail

For the treatment of onychomycoses the medicated enamel based on amorolfine is used. Generally, it is recommended to apply the nail polish once or twice a week, following the instructions provided by the doctor.

The treatment must be performed in a continuous manner and can last up to several months.