Ciclopirox

Category: topical

Aliases: Loprox, Penlac

Pharmacological Mechanism

Hydroxypyridone antifungal — chelates polyvalent metal cations (Fe³⁺, Al³⁺) blocking fungal mitochondrial enzymes. Topical for tinea + nail-lacquer formulation for onychomycosis. Slow nail-bed delivery requires 6-12 month course.

Half-Life (t½)

TD: 24h

Dosing Guidelines

• TD: Typical 8 mg (Range: 1–80 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• integumentary
• immune-hematologic

Pathways It Modulates

• Fungal ergosterol biosynthesis (inhibitor) — fungal Fe/Al-cofactor enzymes (broad)

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 2749
• Formula: C12H17NO2
• Molecular weight: 207.27 g/mol
• InChIKey: SCKYRAXSEDYPSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES: CC1=CC(=O)N(C(=C1)C2CCCCC2)O