The efficacy, safety, required
duration of treatment, and patient preference for oral
fluconazole 150 mg/week in the treatment of 521 patients with cutaneous candidosis,
tinea corporis,
tinea cruris or
tinea pedis were assessed in an open, multicentre, noncomparative trial. Patients received weekly doses of
fluconazole 150mg for an average of 4.65 weeks. Cultures were examined microscopically at baseline, at 2-week intervals, at study end, and at long term follow-up (4 to 6 weeks after the last dose). All adverse events were recorded and rated; patients with laboratory findings outside normal values were monitored. Forms regarding patient preference for oral or topical medication type were assessed from 19 centres at study end. Clinical evaluation demonstrated an overall success rate (cure plus improvement) of 96% at the end of
therapy, and 92% overall success rate at long term follow-up. Eradication of pathogens based on culture was equally high, with 92% eradicated at the end of
therapy and 89% eradicated at long term follow-up. Patient tolerability was good; only 7 patients (1.3%) discontinued
therapy because of adverse events, in 2 cases because of laboratory abnormalities. These findings suggest that oral
fluconazole therapy is safe. This study demonstrated that weekly oral doses of
fluconazole 150mg were effective in the treatment of
tinea corporis,
tinea cruris,
tinea pedis and cutaneous candidosis. Furthermore, there was a high patient preference for oral
fluconazole over previous topical
therapy.