Topical antifungal (morpholine) Pregnancy: Experience in pregnancy and/or lactation is limited and the potential risk is unknown; animal studies have shown reproductive toxicity at high oral doses and it is unknown whether amorolfine is excreted in human milk. Should not be used during pregnancy and/or lactation unless clearly necessary.

Amorolfine

Brand names: Loceryl, Curanail

Amorolfine is a topical antifungal, most commonly used as a nail lacquer, for mild fungal nail infections (onychomycosis) and some skin dermatophyte infections.

Auto-extracted from the source labelling — not yet independently clinician-verified. These values were distilled from the UK SPC (or the US label where noted) but have not had a clinician sign-off. Confirm against the current SmPC before prescribing.

Adult dose

Dose: Apply 5% w/v medicated nail lacquer to the entire surface of the affected finger or toe nails and allow to dry

Route: Topical — medicated nail lacquer, applied with the reusable applicator supplied

Frequency: Once weekly; twice weekly application may prove beneficial in some cases

Adults and elderly. Preparation: before the first application the affected areas of nail (particularly the nail surfaces) must be filed down as thoroughly as possible with the nail file supplied, then cleansed and degreased with the cleaning pad supplied. Before each repeat application, remove any remaining medicated and cosmetic lacquer, file the affected nails down again as required and cleanse with an alcohol-soaked swab. Nail files used on affected nails must not be used on healthy nails. Cosmetic nail lacquer may be applied at least 10 minutes after the amorolfine lacquer; artificial nails must not be used during treatment. Wear impermeable gloves when working with organic solvents (thinners, white spirit) to protect the lacquer on the nails. Duration: treatment should be continued without interruption until the nail is regenerated and the affected areas are finally cured; required frequency and duration depend on intensity and localisation of infection — in general six months (finger nails) and nine to twelve months (toe nails), with review of treatment at intervals of approximately three months. Co-existent tinea pedis should be treated with an appropriate antimycotic cream. Elderly: no specific dosage recommendations. Paediatric: 'There are no specific dosage recommendations for children owing to the lack of clinical experience available to date' and §4.4 states children should not be treated with amorolfine 5% nail lacquer.

Dose auto-extracted from UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) via the eMC — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients

Side effects

Nail disorder, nail discoloration, onychoclasis (broken nails), onychorrhexis (brittle nails) — rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000)
Skin burning sensation — very rare (<1/10,000)
Erythema, pruritus — unknown frequency (post-marketing)
Contact dermatitis, urticaria, blister — unknown frequency (post-marketing)
Hypersensitivity (systemic allergic reaction) — unknown frequency (post-marketing); stop the product immediately, seek medical advice, remove carefully with nail remover solution and do not reapply

Interactions

No interaction studies have been performed
Use of artificial nails should be avoided during treatment

Clinical monograph

How it works

It is a morpholine antifungal that inhibits fungal sterol biosynthesis, disrupting the fungal cell membrane to produce fungistatic and fungicidal effects.

Prescribing in practice

It is suitable only for mild distal nail infection not involving the nail matrix; more extensive or matrix involvement usually requires systemic antifungal therapy.
The affected nail should be filed and cleaned before each application of the lacquer, and treatment continued for the prolonged course needed for nail regrowth.
Avoid contact with the eyes, ears and mucous membranes.

Monitoring

Monitoring is clinical, reviewing nail or skin response over the extended treatment period.

Counselling the patient

File and clean the nail before applying the lacquer as directed.
Treatment must continue for many months until healthy nail has fully grown out.
Avoid cosmetic nail varnish over the treated nail unless advised it is compatible.

Evidence & guidelines

Amorolfine nail lacquer is an established topical option for mild, non-matrix fungal nail infection in current prescribing references.

Reference: SmPC Loceryl / Curanail; BAD Onychomycosis Guideline 2014; NICE CKS Fungal Nail Infections; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Pathways