| Item |
Information |
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Drug Groups
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approved |
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Description
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An antifungal antibiotic. Griseofulvin may be given by mouth in the treatment of tinea infections. [PubChem] |
| Indication |
For the treatment of ringworm infections of the skin, hair, and nails, namely: tinea corporis, tinea pedis, tinea cruris, tinea barbae, cradle cap or other conditions caused by Trichophyton or Microsporum fungi. |
| Pharmacology |
Griseofulvin is a mycotoxic metabolic product of Penicillium spp. It was the first available oral agent for the treatment of dermatophytoses and has now been used for more than forty years. Griseofulvin is fungistatic with in vitro activity against various species of Microsporum Epidermophyton, and Trichophyton. It has no effect on bacteria or on other genera of fungi. Following oral administration, griseofulvin is deposited in the keratin precursor cells and has a greater affinity for diseased tissue. The drug is tightly bound to the new keratin which becomes highly resistant to fungal invasions. Once the keratin-Griseofulvin complex reaches the skin site of action, it binds to fungal microtubules (tubulin) thus altering fungal mitosis. |
| Toxicity |
Side effects are minor: headaches, gastrointestinal reactions and cutaneous eruptions |
| Affected Organisms |
| • |
Yeast and other Trichophyton or Microsporum fungi |
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| Biotransformation |
Primarily hepatic with major metabolites being 6-methyl-griseofulvin and its glucuronide conjugate. |
| Absorption |
Poorly absorbed from GI ranging from 25 to 70% of an oral dose. Absorption is significantly enhanced by administration with or after a fatty meal. |
| Half Life |
9-21 hours |
| External Links |
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