A comparison of a new oral antifungal, terbinafine, with griseofulvin as therapy for tinea corporis.

Fifty patients with tinea corporis were treated with either 500 mg of griseofulvin (microsize) or 500 mg of terbinfine daily for 6 weeks. Thirty-three patients completed the study. Thirteen (87%) of 15 patients who took terbinafine were considered successfully treated, while 13 (73%) of 18 patients in the griseofulvin group noted resolution of their disease. Five patients taking griseofulvin were forced to discontinue the therapy because of side effects, compared with two patients taking terbinafine. This preliminary study indicates that a new oral antifungal agent of the allylamine class, terbinafine, may possess a safety and efficacy profile similar to that of griseofulvin.