naftifine
Naftifine cream is a topical antifungal medication that's used to treat athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm. The 1% and 2% strengths are approved for adults. Depending on the type of fungal infection, children of certain ages can also use the 2% strength of the cream. This medication is applied directly onto the affected areas of skin once per day for up to a few weeks. Side effects aren't common but can include itchiness, burning or stinging on the skin, and dry skin.
What is Naftifine cream?
What is Naftifine cream used for?
- Jock itch - 1% and 2% strengths
- Ringworm - 1% and 2% strengths
- Athlete's foot - 1% strength only
- Athlete's foot between the toes - 2% strength only
How Naftifine cream works
Naftifine cream is an allylamine antifungal. It isn't clear how the medication exactly works. But it's thought to work by blocking the fungus causing the infection from making important proteins needed for survival.
Drug facts
Side effects of Naftifine cream
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Burning or stinging on the skin
- Dry skin
- Itchiness
Less Common Side Effects
- Skin redness
- Skin irritation
The following Naftifine cream side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Burning, stinging, itching, redness, or irritation of the skin
Incidence not known
Blistering or crusting of the skin
softening of the skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Dizziness
headache
Less common
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Naftifine cream
Pros
- Can treat a few different fungal skin infections (athlete's foot, jock itch, or ringworm)
- Applied once per day
- Has few side effects
Cons
- Available by prescription only
- Need to use for 2 to 4 weeks
- Can cause mild skin irritation
Pharmacist tips for Naftifine cream
- Use the naftifine cream for the full amount of time that your prescriber recommended (up to 4 weeks for the 1% strength or 2 weeks for the 2% strength). Don't stop using it early, even if your symptoms get better. Stopping treatment too soon can raise the risk that the skin infection can come back.
- Apply a thin layer of the naftifine cream to the affected areas on your skin. For treating athlete's foot with the 2% strength of the cream, also apply the medication to the skin in between the toes.
- Make sure to wash your hands with soap and water before you use the naftifine cream. This prevents more germs from getting into the infected areas of skin.
- Also wash your hands with soap and water after you've applied the naftifine cream, unless you're treating your hands. This lowers the chance that you accidentally get medication in your eyes or other sensitive areas of the body. If the medication gets in your eyes, rinse them well with water.
- Don't put any naftifine cream in the eyes, mouth, or vagina because it can cause burning and irritation. Be careful if you're applying the medication to the skin around or near those areas. If you accidentally get the naftifine cream in those spots, wash it well with water.
- Some people can have skin reactions, such as burning, stinging, itching, or irritation, after they apply the naftifine cream. Contact your prescriber if these side effects get worse over time or if you see any blistering, swelling, or oozing. These might be signs of a different, more serious skin condition.
- Don't cover the areas where you apply the naftifine cream with tight bandages or dressings unless your prescriber tells you to. Usually, you want the area to "breathe" and stay dry so it can heal.
- If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to a healthcare professional about treatment options for fungal skin infections. There isn't enough information about whether the naftifine cream is safe to use on the skin while pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Store the naftifine cream at room temperature in a cool and dry spot away from pets and children. Contact your local Poison Center right away at 1-800-222-1222 if a child or animal swallows any of the medication.
Common questions about Naftifine cream
No, naftifine cream isn't a steroid. It's an antifungal medication. Steroids and antifungals do different things. Topical steroids help lessen skin inflammation (redness, itching, and swelling). But they don't get rid of any germs that cause infections. On the other hand, topical antifungals like naftifine cream work to directly kill certain types of fungi that can be causing skin infections. As the infection heals with treatment, symptoms of the skin infection (like redness) should start going away on its own. Don't use a steroid with naftifine cream without talking to your prescriber first. It's possible for topical steroids to affect your immune response, which can affect how quickly your fungal infection heals.
The naftifine cream and naftifine gel both come in 1% and 2% strengths. Both strengths of the cream and the 1% gel are approved for athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm. But the 2% gel is only for treating athlete's foot in between the toes. Whether you're prescribed the cream or gel could also depend on your personal preference, the healthcare professional's preference, or your insurance coverage. Speak with the prescriber about which form of naftifine is right for you.
No, the naftifine cream doesn't treat toenail fungus. The medication doesn't get into the nail very well. This means that it can't reach the fungus in the nail that's causing the infection and get rid of it. If you have toenail fungus, ask a healthcare professional about available treatment options.
No. The naftifine cream is only available by prescription from a healthcare professional (HCP). There are a few antifungal creams that are available over the counter (OTC). But ask your HCP first if an OTC antifungal is a reasonable alternative to naftifine cream for your specific fungal skin infection.
Both naftifine cream and terbinafine are topical antifungal medications that can treat athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm. How often and how long you need to use them to treat your fungal skin infection differ. The naftifine cream is applied on the skin once per day for 2 to 4 weeks. In addition to a cream, naftifine is also available as a gel. But both forms of naftifine require a prescription. Topical terbinafine is used on the skin twice per day for 1 to 2 weeks. Topical terbinafine can be found over the counter as a cream and a spray. Talk to a healthcare professional if you have more questions about the differences between these two medications.
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Risks and warnings for Naftifine cream
Naftifine cream can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
For use on the skin only
Only apply naftifine cream to the surface of your skin. Don't put the medication into the eyes, nose, or vagina. Applying naftifine cream to these sensitive areas can cause pain and irritation. Let your prescriber know if your skin becomes very irritated or sensitive as you use this medication. You might have to switch to a different medication.
Naftifine cream dosage
Tube of cream| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60g of 1% | 1 tube | $92.63 | $92.63 |
| 90g of 1% | 1 tube | $136.70 | $136.70 |
| 45g of 2% | 1 tube | $81.60 | $81.60 |
| 60g of 2% | 1 tube | $99.54 | $99.54 |
Typical dosage for Naftifine cream
-
- Age 18 years and older: Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) once per day for up to 4 weeks. Also apply a thin layer of medication to the surrounding areas of the affected skin.
-
- Age 12 years and older (for jock itch or athlete's foot between the toes): Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) once per day for 2 weeks. Be sure to also apply the medication to about a half-inch of healthy skin surrounding the affected area(s).
- Age 2 years and older (for ringworm): Apply a thin layer to the areas of ringworm once per day for 2 weeks. Also apply the cream to about a half-inch of skin just surrounding the areas of ringworm.
Interactions between Naftifine cream and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Naftifine cream cost?
What are alternatives to Naftifine cream?
Treatment and symptom relief (e.g., itching, irritation, redness) of the following fungal skin infections: