Antifungal prescriptions available online

Always take antifungal medicine as prescribed by your healthcare provider. There are over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription antifungal medicines available. Make sure to talk to your healthcare professional to determine the best treatment for your fungal infection.

Antifungal drugs come in several forms, including:

• Injections (shots) or IV

• Oral pills and liquids

• Topical treatment, including skin creams, ointments, gels, and sprays

• Vaginal suppositories

The length of antifungal treatment will depend on the fungal infection. While most fungal diseases, such as ringworm, clear up in a few weeks, other infections can take months or years to go away. More serious fungal infections, including blood and lung infections, may require long-term treatment.

The safety of antifungal medicine varies depending on the drug. Make sure to tell your healthcare professionals if you have certain medical conditions, such as:

• You're currently pregnant or breastfeeding

• Liver or kidney disease

• Heart rhythm disorder

• History of QT prolongation

• Immune disorders, such as HIV/AIDs, lupus, or cancer

• Allergic reaction to antifungals

You should not take an antifungal medicine to treat a viral or bacterial infection. After reviewing your medical history and fungal infection symptoms, your healthcare provider can determine whether it's safe for you to take an antifungal drug.

For mild and uncomplicated fungal infections, an antifungal typically starts working within one to three days. If a single antifungal dose does not help improve symptoms or if the infection is severe, your healthcare provider may prescribe additional doses. If you're taking a short-term antifungal regimen, your symptoms should improve within one to three weeks.

If your symptoms continue after short-term antifungal treatment, your healthcare provider may choose to prescribe the medication for an additional 10 to 14 days or continue treatment for a longer term. If you have a weakened immune system caused by cancer treatment, bone marrow transplant, or immune disorders such as AIDs, you may require long-term treatment to prevent more serious fungal infections.

Avoid taking certain medications while taking an antifungal, such as:

• Other antifungal drugs, antibiotics, or antiviral medications

• Cholesterol and blood pressure medication

• Oral diabetes medicine

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

• Blood thinners

Talk to your doctor before drinking alcohol on antifungals. Alcohol may increase your risk of adverse effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, and upset stomach.

Always take your antifungal medicine as directed by your doctor. Improper use of antifungals can lead to antifungal resistance, which can make it harder for your body to fight a fungal infection.

In general, antifungals fight fungal infections in two ways: by directly killing fungal cells or preventing cells from growing and multiplying. Antifungal drugs target structures that are necessary in fungal cells but not in human cells. In turn, they can fight fungal infections without harming your body's cells.

Antifungal medicines commonly target the fungal cell membrane and cell wall. When these structures become damaged, they cannot protect the fungal cell, causing the cell to burst open and die.

The three types of antifungal drugs are azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins. Each type of antifungal medicine works differently to treat fungal infections. After discussing your symptoms and medical history with your healthcare provider, your doctor can help you choose the best antifungal treatment for your fungal infection.

Natural antifungals are natural supplements that can help you avoid the side effects and antifungal resistance that comes with synthetic drugs. Popular antifungal drugs include grapefruit seed extract, oregano oil, and caprylic acid. Although adding natural antifungals to your diet may help with treatment, be sure to talk to your doctor before using natural antifungals in place of medication to treat a fungal infection.