TABLE 2.

Characteristics of five antifungal drugs^a

Variable	Characteristic for:
	Griseofulvin	Ketoconazole	Itraconazole	Fluconazole	Terbinafine
Systemic administration	Oral	Oral	Oral	Oral or intravenous	Oral
Related concerns or problems	Tolerance, treatment length	Toxicity, interactions	Interactions	Interactions, Candida resistance	Adverse events
Affinity for keratin	Low	High	High	High	High
Excretion in sweat	High	High	Minimal	High	None
Excretion in sebum	Limited	Limited	High	Limited	High
Drug concnb	P = S	P = S	S > P	S > P	P = S
Time to reach stratum corneum	Epidermis within 8 h	Unknown	Within 24 h	Within 24 h	Within 8 h
Appropriate for skin	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Appropriate for onychomycosis	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

^aAdapted from reference 7 with permission of the publisher. 

^bP, plasma; S, skin.