Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: LAMISIL AT versus SELENIUM SULFIDE.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: LAMISIL AT versus SELENIUM SULFIDE.
LAMISIL AT vs SELENIUM SULFIDE
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Terbinafine inhibits squalene epoxidase, an enzyme in the fungal ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. This leads to accumulation of squalene and depletion of ergosterol, disrupting fungal cell membrane integrity and causing cell death.
Selenium sulfide is an antifungal and cytostatic agent. It reduces sebum production and inhibits the growth of Malassezia species by interfering with fungal lipid metabolism and cell wall synthesis. The exact molecular mechanism is not fully elucidated.
Terbinafine 250 mg orally once daily for 6 weeks for fingernail onychomycosis or 12 weeks for toenail onychomycosis. Topical: 1% cream applied once daily for 1 week for tinea pedis; 1% solution applied once daily for 1 week for tinea corporis/cruris.
Topical: 2.5% lotion or shampoo applied to affected area once daily for 7 days; 1% shampoo used once or twice weekly for maintenance.
None Documented
None Documented
The terminal elimination half-life is approximately 11-17 hours in healthy adults; however, it increases to about 200-400 hours in the distribution phase from tissues (e.g., skin, adipose). Steady-state is reached after 10-14 days of oral dosing.
Not established; due to negligible systemic absorption, a terminal half-life is not clinically relevant. If absorbed, selenium has a long biological half-life of approximately 65–115 days due to incorporation into selenoproteins.
Terbinafine is extensively metabolized in the liver; approximately 80% of a dose is excreted in urine as metabolites, and 20% in feces. Less than 1% is excreted unchanged in urine.
Selenium sulfide is minimally absorbed after topical application. The small absorbed fraction is excreted renally as selenite or selenate, with fecal excretion of unabsorbed drug accounting for >90% of the dose.
Category C
Category A/B
Antifungal
Antifungal / Antiseborrheic