Antifungal Treatments During Pregnancy

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Topical Treatments for Tinea Corporis:

  • First Choice: Clotrimazole (Lotrimin)
  • Alternatives: Miconazole, then ketoconazole.
  • Limited Data but Likely Safe: Terbinafine, naftifine, ciclopirox

Topical Treatments for Candidiasis:

  • Safe but Less Effective: Nystatin.
  • Other Safe Options: Clotrimazole, miconazole, ketoconazole
    • High doses in animals not linked to defects
  • Alternative: Topical gentian violet (0.5%-1% solution)

Topical antifungal Treatments for Tinea Versicolor:

  • Safe for Limited Application: Clotrimazole, miconazole
  • For Widespread Areas: Zinc pyrithione soap, topical benzoyl peroxide soap
  • Caution Advised: Selenium sulfide.

Systemic Antifungal Treatments:

  • Should Be Avoided: Fluconazole , ketoconazole, itraconazole.
    • Risks include craniosynostosis, congenital heart defects, skeletal anomalies
    • Study found no increased risk with fluconazole in the first trimester, reassuring for prior use before pregnancy knowledge

Specific Considerations:

  • Griseofulvin: Not recommended during pregnancy
  • Terbinafine: Suggested as safe by a 2020 study.
    • FDA categorizes it as pregnancy category B.
    • No increased risk of spontaneous abortion or major malformations
    • Oral or topical terbinafine is sometimes necessary for severe cases of onychomycosis despite regular topical therapy.
    • Some authors prefer to postpone treatment until after delivery for conditions like dermatophytic onychomycosis, and chromomycosis.

Superficial Infections

  • During Pregnancy: Topical treatments, including topical azoles, are safe throughout pregnancy
  • Systemic Treatment (After Delivery): For conditions like dermatophytic onychomycosis, chromomycosis, and mycetoma, systemic treatment should be postponed until after delivery.

Treatment for Invasive Fungal Infections:

  • Cornerstone Treatment: Amphotericin B and its lipid derivatives
  • Alternative (After the First Trimester): Fluconazole, if no other agent is available, as suggested by some experts.

Recommendations:

  • Topical Agents: Preferable over systemic treatments during pregnancy
  • Systemic Agents: To be avoided unless necessary and after thorough risk assessment

References

  • Common Antifungal Drugs in Pregnancy: Risks and Precautions(link)
  • Antifungal drugs during pregnancy: an updated review(link)
  • Oral Antifungal in Pregnancy Increases Miscarriage Risk(link)
  • Skin Infections in Pregnant Women: Many Drugs Safe, but Not All(link)

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