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Fungal infections — what to take?

Cutaneous mycoses are fungal infections: tinea pedis (athlete's foot), tinea corporis (on body), candidiasis (moist areas), pityriasis (hypopigmented spots), onychomycosis (nails).

5 recommended OTC drugs
4,387 pharmacies available

OTC — no prescription

What you can take for fungal infections

Informativ. Nu înlocuiește sfatul medicului. Consultă medicul sau farmacistul înainte de a lua orice medicament.

Common forms

Tinea pedis — athlete's foot, between toes (maceration) or plantar (hyperkeratotic). Itching, flaking, fissures.

Tinea corporis — erythematous ring-shaped plaques, with active margin and clear center, itchy.

Tinea cruris — inguinal fold, more common in men.

Cutaneous candidiasis — folds (under breasts, intergluteal, inguinal) — red macerated patches.

Onychomycosis — thickened, yellow, crumbly nails. Difficult and long treatment.

Pityriasis versicolor — hypopigmented spots on trunk, more visible in summer.

Topical OTC treatment

Clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine, ketoconazole — creams, powders, sprays. Apply 2x/day, 2-4 weeks (continue 1 week after visual disappearance).

Terbinafine (Lamisil cream) — most effective on tinea, healing in 1-2 weeks.

Ketoconazole (Nizoral cream/shampoo) — for pityriasis versicolor.

Powders — useful in moist areas (feet, groin) for prevention.

Onychomycosis

Topical treatment (amorolfine lacquer — Loceryl, ciclopirox) — low efficacy (10-30%). Oral treatment (terbinafine, itraconazole — Rx) — more effective (60-80%), 3-6 months.

Preventive measures

  • Dry feet (especially between toes).
  • Cotton socks, changed often.
  • Breathable footwear.
  • Slippers in public showers, pools.
  • Don't share footwear, towels.
  • Body hydration, but dry fold areas well.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical or pharmacist advice. For diagnosis and treatment consult a healthcare professional.

Nights, weekends, holidays

24/7 pharmacies for fungal infections

Fungal infections doesn't wait for office hours. If you need a medicine at 2 AM or on a weekend, open the map with the 24/7 filter on and find the nearest on-call pharmacy. Major cities have several round-the-clock pharmacies — the per-city pages below list them all, with address, phone and verified opening hours.

Call ahead before you leave, especially at night — on-call schedules can change and stock for some prescription items may be limited between deliveries.

Search the pharmacy

Medicine categories for fungal infections

Beyond the OTC products listed above, you can also browse whole medicine and supplement categories, with prices compared across Dr. Max, Catena, Tei, HelpNet and the rest of our network. Category pages are in Romanian — the comparator works the same way for you.

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for fungal infections

Open the interactive map and grant location permission — you'll immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it's night or a weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-call ones. For fungal infections most of the listed remedies are over the counter, so you can walk in without a prescription, but check stock and prices first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active ingredient (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.), search it in the comparator before you leave — you'll see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it's in stock. For chronic prescriptions, save your favourite pharmacy in the app and turn on hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially when treatment for fungal infections runs over weeks.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, consult a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Extensive, recurrent infection
  • Onychomycosis (often requires oral treatment)
  • Immunosuppressed patient (diabetes, corticosteroid therapy)
  • Lack of response to OTC treatment for 4 weeks
  • Inflammation, pain, suppuration (suspected bacterial superinfection)

Frequently asked

Common questions

Best OTC antifungal?
Terbinafine (Lamisil) — most effective for tinea. Ketoconazole — for pityriasis versicolor. Clotrimazole — safe choice for candidiasis.
How long do I apply the treatment?
2-4 weeks minimum, continuing 1 week after visible disappearance of the lesion. Premature discontinuation = relapse.
Nail fungus — lacquer or pill?
Lacquer is an OTC option but with low efficacy. Oral treatment (Rx) is more effective but has liver risk — consult the doctor.
How do I prevent recurrence?
Keep feet dry, change socks daily, use antifungal powder preventively, slippers in moist public spaces.

See also

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