A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, parallel- group study of the efficacy and safety of terbinafine 1% topical solution, applied twice daily for one week in patients with pityriasis versicolor

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of terbinafine 1% solution in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor to that of vehicle alone. Design: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Setting: Out-patient clinic of the Department of Dermatology, King Edward Medical College, Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Patients: Of microscopically confirmed 67 patients of pityriasis versicolor, 51 were treated with topical terbinafine 1% solution and 26 with vehicle alone. Both formulations were applied twice daily for one week. Patients were followed uptill week eight. Results: At the end of study, clinical and microscopic cure was seen in 95.4% of patients treated with terbinafine 1% solution while 34.8% of subjects from the placebo group were cured (p<0.001). Both formulation were well tolerated and safe (p>0.05). Conclusions: Short-term therapy of one week with terbinafine 1% solution is highly effective and safe for treatment of pityriasis versicolor.