Griseofulvin, sold in the US as Gris-PEG and supplied generically across most other markets, is an oral first-line therapy for Microsporum-driven tinea capitis and other dermatophyte infections, and buyers can specify ultramicrosize, microsize or oral-suspension presentations against the same tender line.

Griseofulvin is licensed for dermatophyte (ringworm-type) fungal infections of the skin, scalp, hair and nails, specifically tinea corporis, tinea cruris, tinea capitis, tinea barbae, tinea pedis and tinea unguium (onychomycosis), where the causative organism is a Trichophyton, Microsporum or Epidermophyton species and topical antifungal therapy is inappropriate or has already failed. It is an oral therapy, not a topical cream.

Both are effective, but the choice depends on which fungus is involved. Terbinafine clears Trichophyton-driven tinea capitis reliably in a shorter three-to-four-week course, but a meta-analysis of randomised trials found it performs worse against Microsporum species. Griseofulvin is likely superior to terbinafine against Microsporum, which is why it stays in active use in Microsporum-endemic paediatric populations even though its own course runs longer, typically four to six weeks for scalp infections.

No. Griseofulvin is contraindicated in pregnancy; conjoined-twin cases have been reported following first-trimester exposure in the published literature. It also reduces the reliability of combined oral contraceptives, so prescribers typically advise an additional barrier method during treatment and for one month after the last dose, and men are usually advised to avoid fathering a child for a defined period after treatment. This should be confirmed against the receiving country's current label.

Ultramicrosize griseofulvin has a smaller drug particle size that gives roughly one-and-a-half times the absorption of microsize griseofulvin at the same nominal milligram dose, which is why ultramicrosize products such as Gris-PEG can be dosed lower than older microsize tablets. The two are not interchangeable milligram-for-milligram, so tender and formulary lines should specify which particle-size product is required rather than treating griseofulvin as one interchangeable line.

No to both. Griseofulvin tablets and oral suspension are stored at normal room temperature, 15 to 30°C, in a tight, light-resistant container, and travel on standard ambient pharmaceutical logistics rather than validated cold-chain lanes. It is not scheduled as a controlled substance in the US, UK or under WHO drug-control conventions, so it does not carry the additional import-licensing burden that narcotics or psychotropics do.

Yes, buyers can specify either. In the US, Gris-PEG (ultramicrosize) remains a marketed originator brand alongside FDA-approved generic ultramicrosize and microsize tablets. In the UK and most of the markets M Care serves, griseofulvin is currently supplied generically, with no originator brand in active distribution, so the standard tender line there is written generically. Tell us your destination market and we confirm which form the registration actually requires before quoting.