Dwight Thomas, 60, of Savannah, Ga., concludes a combination of Lamisil and Penlac works best in his "The War Against Toenail Fungus."

"Nobody knows much about it, and you can't get rid of it," Thomas told the Wall Street Journal. "I leaped into the breach. This is a toenail-fungus patient memoir."

Thomas said he first learned of Lamisil, which costs $8 per tablet, and Penlac, which costs $200 for a small vial, six years ago. After reading all available literature, he decided to conduct his own tests.

His finding: A combination of the two prescription medicines gives toenail fungus the best boot -- but the relief is only temporarily.

"I actually got it back," Thomas said. "I still have it."