Loprox
Health Benefits
Among its applications are the following ones:
treating skin fungal infections like ringworm, jock itch, and athlete's foot
Side Effects
The following are typical Loprox side effects:
Itching
Burning
Irritation
Redness
Allergic reactions (rash, hives, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); severe burning, stinging, or irritation of the treated skin are just a few of the uncommon but serious side effects. Inform your doctor if these side effects continue or get worse.
If you experience any signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as a rash, hives, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue, you should seek immediate medical attention. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you experience any additional side effects not covered above.
Dosages
For the treatment of superficial fungal skin infections in adults, the following Loprox dosage is advised:
Cream: Gently rub in a thin layer twice daily over the affected area.
Gel: Gently rub in a thin layer twice daily over the affected area.
Solution: Gently rub in a thin layer twice daily over the affected area.
Loprox should be used for the full recommended period of time. It's possible that your symptoms will get better before the infection is totally gone. By skipping doses, you run the risk of contracting another infection that is resistant to antifungal treatment. A viral skin infection, such as the flu or the common cold, cannot be treated with loprox.
Interactions
Notify your doctor of all medications you take, begin taking, or stop taking, particularly: birth control pills, blood thinners, cancer medications, cholesterol-lowering medications, corticosteroids (prednisone), cyclosporine, heart rhythm medications, HIV/AIDS medications, seizure medications, and St. John's wort.
There may be other medications that interact with Loprox; this list is not exhaustive. This includes vitamins, herbal products, prescription and over-the-counter medications. This list does not include all possible drug interactions. Inform all of your medical conditions and prescriptions to each of your healthcare professionals. Never begin a new medication without first consulting your physician.
Mechanism of Action
Loprox is an antifungal agent that is active against several yeasts and dermatophytes. Although the exact mechanism(s) of action are still unclear, they seem to be connected to Loprox's capacity to prevent the biosynthesis of ergosterol, a crucial part of fungal cell membranes. Ergosterol serves as a starting point for the synthesis of other sterols, including cholesterol, so its absence may impair membrane function. According to in vitro research, Loprox is fungicidal to dermatophyte organisms like Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes (which cause athlete's foot), Epidermophyton floccosum (which causes ringworm), and Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes (which cause seborrheic dermatitis).
In vitro tests show that loprox is effective against some bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. However, it is unclear what this activity means clinically.
Pharmacokinetics
When ciclopirox is applied topically to human skin as a cream, gel, or solution, ciclopirox is absorbed through the skin and is then metabolized throughout the body. Maximum plasma concentrations of 2.6 ng/mL were reached about an hour after dosing in a study where 6 healthy subjects received Loprox cream (8%), and they decreased with a half-life of 10 hours. In a different study, maximum plasma concentrations of 5 ng/mL were reached 3 hours after the dose was administered to 6 healthy subjects who received Loprox gel (8%).
Human serum proteins used in in vitro binding studies show that ciclopirox binds 96% to albumin and 4% to alpha1-acid glycoprotein. Plasma proteins are unaffected by ciclopirox concentrations that are higher than those that can be obtained through topical application.
Special Populations
No pharmacokinetic research has been carried out in Special Populations.