For drug reviews by consumers--go to askapatient.com and put in lamisil. I did. I think you'll be shocked at what you'll read. 222 reviews on the drug. And on a scale from 1 to 5, it got a 2.1. Many said that it shouldn't be on the market and that it was a very dangerous drug with serious side effects. Check it out.

This is a great forum. You guys have given me hope once more. Like everyone else I’ve been dealing with this issue for years (at least 5). The infection started in my big left toe. Now all toes show signs of infection (except the toe next to the big toe – strange).

Did the Penlac thing when I first had it and the condition was cured but came back. I didn’t help things by stubbed and cracking the nail on both toes causing the condition to progress.

I decided to start over, dump Penlac and started the vinegar thing. That didn’t help. Went back to Penlac which started to improve the problem until I got my last refill. After using half the bottle it stopped working (I actually think I got a bad batch).

Went back to the internet and started reading about filing down the nail and using Tea Tree Oil. I started doing that. The growth of the infection (which never really took hold of the whole nail just 1/3 of it) stopped and the tea tree oil seems to make the nail opaque so you really don’t see the yellow.

I decided to try something else I found at the local health food store. It’s a product by a company called Thursday Plantation “antifungal treatment for nails” that has tea tree oil and undecylenic acid (12% concentration) as its active ingredient. Little look up on the internet says undecylenic acid is an anti-fungal.

Started using it on both big toe nails, around the nail (even on the skin) and at the base of the nail. Everywhere there was the yellow fungus is now white – including some areas of skin that were treated.

That kinda freaked me out so I stopped and went back to the tea tree. That’s the point I was at when I found this forum. I think I’m going to go back to the Thursday product and use it for a bit longer (I’d just had it for a week) and add apple cider vinegar to my regimen. I’ll report back if I have success.

This past week I went to a dermatologist to get a scraping to identify my toenail fungus and to get a scrip for generic lamisil. Several years ago (4 or 5) I took one course of the drug. It cleared up most of the problem. I did not take another round because of the expense. I don't remember having any side effects at the time, but I was still nervous about taking it again. I told the Dr that I had been soaking twice daily in very hot epsom salt & H20 and applying AC vinegar 2+ times daily. He shook his head like I was some kind of idiot and told me that none of that would work. He took the scraping and when he came back, he told me there was no fungus present, that something I was doing must be working. Based on my past experience with lamisil clearing u a portion of it, he was sure that it was fungus I was dealing with. THEN...he told me that I should discontinue the ACV and soaks and that he would give me a scrip for lamisil and write up an order for blood work. I declined the prescription and will keep wasting my time with the soaking and ACV the must be working. You guys on this board have given me hope, visible results and now medical evidence that these simple and inexpensive treatments work. Google epsom salts and toenail fungus and there is a Dr who has cleared his toenails using epsom salts and hot water. He gives pretty detailed instructions. The cider stinks (My husband hates it) but if you use a dropper bottle it stinks less than a spray bottle. Everyone keep this up, as I will. Once again, thanks for the support. It really helps.

Thank you!

Over two years ago I had athlete's foot fungus. Before I could completely cure it with topical Lamisil, two toe nails of the right foot were infected.

I went to a podiatrist who said that oral Lamisil is the only treatment that is recommended to treat nail fungus. However, it doesn't always work and can cause liver stress in metabolizing the Lamilsil. I didn't want to take oral medication for a foot fungus and have something as toxic as Lamisil in my blood stream.

I tried several over the counter nail fungus treatments at least one with tree oil (and one bought from Sky Mall). I tried Vicks Vapor Rub (at night with a sock). I tried soaking in a solution of Guinness Extra Stout, acidophilus and vinegar in the prescribed proportions and soaking periods. The results were that the infected nails appeared to worsen and there were no signs of improvement.

Then I discovered this web site with it's kindred souls and the various attempts at solving this particular ailment.

I was intrigued and a little skeptical about such a simple treatment as spraying white vinegar on the nails but I seemed to try everything else without the desired effect.

One thing that I learned from this web site is to file the nail's surface so as to be as thin as possible (without the nail splitting). This approach seems to make sense since the fungus thickens the nail and of course makes it more difficult to achieve an acidic environment in which to kill the fungus.

I modified the approach slightly in that I used Q-tips to paint the nail with white vinegar in the morning and at night. I checked into using apple cider vinegar and found it was also a 5% vinegar solution (the same concentration as the white vinegar) so did not change the vinegar type (I went to Ralph's Super Market so apple cider vinegar may have higher acidity from a health food store?).

Before I started this regimen of white vinegar the large toe nail was discolored (and lifted from the nail bed) very near the cuticle. I have been applying the vinegar for 1 month (painting the nail, the cuticle area as well as along the sides of the nail and the top of the nail...I suppose the same coverage as spraying the nail area). The nail bed is now health pink half the way up the nail!!! The other toe's nail is also a healthy pink! What can I say...I'm pleased!

I don't know if I had filed the nail before trying the other treatments they would have worked as well but who cares this form of treatment is working.

I hope this description will be of help to others.

That is terrific! Please keep us updated. Congrats!

You've all been so much help already, but I have a question about filing toenails. I have filed for about a month (not constantly) and there are pinkish horizontal streaks across some of the nails. Is this a bad or good thing? Each time I file it gets more pronounced. Is this healthy tissue under there that I haven't seen in years or am I doing something to maybe bruise the nail bed? If this has happened to anyone else, please let me know.

PS keep up the ACV and soaks!

Some Doctors think it's a good idea and some don't. I haven't been doing it. I did it a couple of times, but I stopped. If you have any doubts, I would suggest that you don't.

I've been able to get rid of toenail fungus with a paste of baking soda and water. I just mix the baking soda with a little bit of water and put it all over the nail. It turns the infected part a thick, icky white, but that grows out--gradually, of course, it takes months. I usually put is on in the morning after I get out of the shower and leave it on.

This alkaline cure seems to be the exact opposite of using vinegar, but it worked for me a couple years ago and again, in these past couple months.

(For what it's worth, I'm also one of those folks who always have cold feet, and spend the entire fall, winter and spring in socks and I think that's not so good for my toes!)

How do you get the paste to stay on?

If you just add a little water, it's kind of thick and sticky and it just stays on by itself. It will dry out a lot after a 5-10 minutes and you can just put socks on. Or I just brush some of the excess off if I'm wearing shoes without socks. (and, of course, it does fall off onto the bathroom floor, but, you know, the price of beauty and all that!)
Even after you brush some of it off, a lot still stays in the crease where the nail grows out of the skin and on the infected part of the nail and I think that's one of the reasons why it works--because it stays there throughout the day, it has a longer time to work.
The first week, I put it on, I put more on at night too, but after the first week, it seemed to still work if I just put it on in the mornings, or even skipped a day.

Have any of you kindred souls done any research on the possibility of body PH and tendency to nail and other fungal infections? These natural and inexpensive methods that I have been using (Filing, ACV, Epsom salt & hot water soaks) have had an amazing effect on my nail fungus. Wearing flip flops every minute I possibly can has also, I think, helped. Several of you have mentioned that you have had a Dr mention to you that this is "hereditary" and/or that once you have it you will always have it. My own experience with a Dr was not good and I have zero confidence in what he told me. It is confusing to me that ACV vinegar (obviously an acid) has a positive effect on the fungus which I have read thrives in people with an acidic PH. I am planning to look more into this as I can. Does anyone have any thoughts or in depth knowledge of how all of this works? Is it possible that adjusting the body's PH through diet could help all of us achieve a more long term improvement and/or banish these little monsters attacking our nails? I'll keep you posted on what I learn. I still agree with SpunkyBlondie, we need to attack this stuff on as many fronts as possible.

I think that the body's ph is important to beating the fungus. I have a long term (35 yr) infection. I applied prescription thymol for about 3 years and it didn't do much. I think for me, topical stuff only does so much. So I am doing the following, internal stuff. I am drinking 2 tablespoons of acv diluted in a glass of water. I am drinking carrot juice, which is supposed to be an antifungal. I am taking olive leaf extract twice daily. I take oil of oregano softgels sporadically. I drink kefir for the good bacteria that's supposed to be helpful in the fight against fungus. I stopped drinking alcohol, boy, that's tough! I do the epsom and hot water soaks and the cornmeal soaks. I even sleep with my feet exposed, which ain't easy. It helps to have a comforter! I am obsessed with this ^%$#$% fungus. Short of Lamisil, I'd consider just about anything! Even though vinegar has acidic acid, I read that it is really alkaline. I have read that you've got to change the body's current environment to get rid of these critters. There is also a wealth of information on the earthclinic website.

I will check out that web site. Unfortunately, I don't think that the medical profession really knows much about this &*%$## fungus. Most people that have gotten any results from lamasil without killing themselves seem to have the fungus recur. I am drinking 1 glass of red wine a day and have given up all else. Guess it may have to go also. Coffee is hard to give up for me, but I may also have to try to replace most or all of it with herbal tea.
One month or so of working on the outside has resulted in changes that I am very happy with. I think I may be ready to add working on it from the inside. I added ACV and H20 to drink about a week ago. This is all actually kind of interesting. Who knew? Luck to everyone.

I have had toenail fungus on one foot for years. Medication was not a possibility for me I had a terrible reaction. Now it is on my fingernails and LOOKS AWFUL. The thumb on my left side is all brown and really ugly. I have a weekly manicure to keep the nails short and neat and trimmed. Please tell me if you have ever had this on your fingernails and if so how did you treat it

Try the remedies that are listed here for your fingernails. There's not a different remedy for fingernails.

Read through these posts and try some of what is working for others. Since your fingers are out in the open and the fingernails grow faster than toenails, you should be able to see a difference quicker than with toes. Good luck, keep us posted.

That's what I hate about this damn fungus. The minute you think you're winning, it gains ground. Don't get me wrong, I didn't get complacent. I did all my usual routines and the brownish black part has grown toward the base. I am going to try to limit my carbohydrate consumption since I just learned the carbohydrates are converted into sugar, which is what the fungus lives on. I was avoiding obvious sugar items, including alcohol. This is going to make it pretty restrictive, but I will give it a shot.

hi there, I caught a fungus in my little toe nail about a year ago. Its since spread to every single damn toe nail, is now slowly thickening both my big toe nails and has also spread onto my middle finger and looks absolutely hideous! If I wear nail polish I have to wear a band-aid on that finger! arghhh! so bloody annoying!

I'm two and a half months through a three month course of taking Turbinafine orally and am almost convinced its making me sick as a dog.

I have absolutely zero energy or motivation, am piling on weight, have difficulty sleeping, am feeling confused and forgetful all the time and am also getting hot flushes (i'm only 28 this def shouldn't be happening!!), plus feeling depressed and snappy all the time.. which isn't me at all!

I guess what I'm wondering is what other side effects people have experienced taking Terbinafine? I'm pretty much sold on the idea of using vinegar and trying some of the laquers you can buy over the net but thought I'd get some feedback. Maybe its the simple reason that my liver is now shot to $hit and causing all these health problems.

I live in London and its difficult finding access to professional and helpful resources.

Go to the website askapatient.com and put in lamisil. There you'll find the reviews. And you'll get to see the various side effects that is associated with this drug. Btw, does it look like it is doing any good?

I agree with spunkyblondie that just when you think you are gaining some ground the fungus tries to infect the new healthy nail growing out. I can see it happening in my big toe right now. I have been doing the vinegar thing 6 months (I can't believe it's been that long!) and 2/5 toes are totally cured. It seems like the fungus is cured in the reverse order that toes were infected. My big toenail is being really stubborn- it's a lot better, but just seems to grow SOOO slowly.

Hoping for pretty feet by next summer,
Lisie