tavaborole

Tavaborole should be used for 48 weeks. Don't stop using it earlier, even if the symptoms have improved, unless your prescriber tells you to do so. Stopping treatment too early can make the infection more likely to come back again.

It's best to not wear any nail polish or other cosmetic nails on the infected nail(s) while you're using tavaborole since it’s unclear if they might affect how well the medication works. Wait until your infection is gone and your nails are healed before applying nail polish.

Tavaborole can cause some redness and itching at the application site, especially if it gets on skin. Let your primary care provider know if these side effects don't go away. Depending on your symptoms, you might need more medical attention.

Store tavaborole at room temperature in the bottle it came in from the pharmacy. Don't use or store it near heat or open flames since the medication is flammable (can catch fire easily).

Each bottle of tavaborole should only be used for up to 3 months after opening. It's recommended to write in the new 3-month expiration date when you open the bottle. Request a refill for the medication a couple days before the expiration date so you don't miss any doses. After 3 months, throw the bottle away, even if there's still medication inside.

Before using tavaborole, wash your feet and toes with soap and water and let them dry.

Apply tavaborole to the affected toenail(s) using the dropper from the bottle. You'll want the medication to completely cover the entire toenail and under the tip of the nail. Let the medication dry completely before putting on socks or other foot coverings.

Wash your hands after applying the medication or any time after you've touched your toenail. Even though you're using the dropper to apply the medication, it's easy to accidentally touch an infected toenail during the process. This can cause the fungal infection to spread to other parts of the body or to other people.