Home : Drugs A - Z : Terbinafine

What is this medicine?
TERBINAFINE (TER bin a feen) is an antifungal medicine. It is used to treat certain kinds of fungal or yeast infections.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. This pricing information was updated 09/2009. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit www.drugstore.com. Actual costs to patients will vary depending on the use of specific retail or mail-order locations and health insurance copays.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• changes in vision
• dark urine
• fever or infection
• general ill feeling or flu-like symptoms
• light-colored stools
• loss of appetite, nausea
• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
• right upper belly pain
• unusually weak or tired
• yellowing of the eyes or skin

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• changes in taste
• diarrhea
• hair loss
• muscle or joint pain
• stomach gas
• stomach upset

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I use this medicine?
Take this medicine by mouth with a full glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. You can take this medicine with food or on an empty stomach. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not skip doses or stop your medicine early even if you feel better. Do not stop taking except on your doctor's advice.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What may interact with this medicine?
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• thioridazine

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• beta-blockers
• caffeine
• cimetidine
• cyclosporine
• medicines for depression, anxiety, or psychotic disturbances
• medicines for fungal infections like fluconazole and ketoconazole
• medicines for irregular heartbeat like amiodarone, flecainide and propafenone
• rifampin
• warfarin

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

Who should NOT use this medication?

• Hypersensitivity to terbinafine or any ingredient in the formulation.

What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Visit your doctor or health care provider regularly. Tell your doctor right away if you have nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain on your right upper side, yellow skin, dark urine, light stools, or are over tired. Some fungal infections need many weeks or months of treatment to cure. If you are taking this medicine for a long time, you will need to have important blood work done.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• drink alcoholic beverages
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• an unusual or allergic reaction to terbinafine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you have been diagnosed with a disease for which an antibiotic is needed, you must complete the prescribed course of treatment. Even if you start to feel better, do not skip any doses and remember to take the medication until it is all gone.

I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.