While over-the-counter toenail-fungus medications are available, experts agree they generally aren’t very effective. You physician is more likely to recommend one of these medicines or treatments instead:

• Prescription antifungals, such as terbinafine (Lamisil) or itraconazole (Sporanox). You’ll typically take a six- to twelve-week course of the medication, but may not see results for months or even a year. If you continue to expose your feet to moist, warm environments, or neglect your foot hygiene, the infection can return.
• Antifungal nail polish. This lacquer, called ciclopirox (or Penlac), is sometimes used to treat mild or moderate infections. Daily use can sometimes clear up the fungus, but it takes about a year.
• Topical medicines (medications applied to the skin). These creams are often used along with a special lotion that contains urea, to make them be absorbed more quickly. Your doctor may also file down your nail (a procedure called debridement), to cut down on the problem area. Usually, topicals can’t cure fungus on their own, and are used along with oral medications to boost the latter’s effectiveness.
• If your toenail fungus is really severe or painful, your doctor may recommend removing the nail. A new, healthier nail will likely grow in, though it may take a year. In the meantime, your physician may also direct you to apply antifungal polish to the nail bed.
• Photodynamic therapy. This relatively new treatment involves treating the toenail with acid, then exposing it to intense light.