- Taken oral, high affinity to hair & Nails
Griseofulvin interacts with the microtubules within the fungus to disrupt the mitotic spindle and inhibit mitosis.
It has been largely replaced by oral terbinafine for the treatment of onychomycosis (tinea unguium), ***although it is still used for dermatophytosis of the scalp and hair. ***
Griseofulvin is fungistatic and requires a long duration of treatment (for example, 6 to 12 months for onychomycosis) because it is deposited in keratin precursor so, so newly formed keratin is resistant to fungus.
Griseofulvin induces hepatic CYP450 activity, which increases the rate of metabolism of a number of drugs, including anticoagulants. The use of griseofulvin is contraindicated in pregnancy and patients with porphyria