Terbinex

Generic name: Terbinafine Tablets and Hydroxypropyl-Chitosan Nail Lacquer
Drug class: Miscellaneous antifungals

Medically reviewed by  A Ras MD.

What is Terbinex?

Terbinex is a prescription medication that is used to treat fungal infections. Terbinex may be given to you for other reasons. Talk to your doctor.

Before taking Terbinex, tell your doctor:

• If you are allergic to Terbinex; any part of this medicine; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you have any of these health problems: Kidney disease or liver disease.
• If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take Terbinex.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this medicine.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take Terbinex with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Terbinex?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take Terbinex. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• It may take several months to see full effect.
• You may get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen and wear clothing and eyewear that protects you from the sun.
• Limit your use of caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate. Use with Terbinex may cause nervousness, shakiness, and a fast heartbeat.
• Low white blood cell counts have rarely happened with Terbinex. This may lead to a higher chance of getting an infection. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a low white blood cell count. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection like fever, chills, or sore throat.
• Liver problems have happened with Terbinex. Sometimes these problems have been severe, leading to liver transplant or death. Liver problems may happen in people with or without liver disease. Talk with the doctor.
• Very bad and sometimes deadly blood problems like thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS) have happened with Terbinex in some people. Call your doctor right away if you feel very tired or weak or have any bruising or bleeding; dark urine or yellow skin or eyes; pale skin; change in the amount of urine passed; change in eyesight; change in strength on 1 side is greater than the other, trouble speaking or thinking, or change in balance; or fever.
• A severe and sometimes deadly reaction has happened. Most of the time, this reaction has signs like fever, rash, or swollen glands with problems in body organs like the liver, kidney, blood, heart, muscles and joints, or lungs. If you have questions, talk with the doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using Terbinex while you are pregnant.

Nail solution:

• This medicine may catch on fire. Do not use near an open flame or while smoking.
• This medicine may cause harm if swallowed. If Terbinex is swallowed, call a doctor or poison control center right away.

How is Terbinex best taken?

Use Terbinex as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

Tablets:

• Take with or without food.

Nail solution:

• Use on nails and nail beds every day.
• Put the nail solution on after you wash and dry your nails. It is best to put the nail solution on at bedtime.
• Do not put on open wounds.

All products:

• Use as you have been told, even if your signs get better.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

Tablets:

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If the next dose is less than 4 hours away, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

Nail solution:

• Put on a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not put on 2 doses or extra doses.

What are the side effects of Terbinex that I need to call my doctor about immediately?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
• Low mood (depression).
• Swollen gland.
• Cough.
• Chest pain or pressure or a fast heartbeat.
• Blood in the urine.
• Pain when passing urine.
• Pale skin.
• Lupus has happened with Terbinex, as well as lupus that has gotten worse in people who already have it. Tell your doctor if you have lupus. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of lupus like a rash on the cheeks or other body parts, sunburn easy, muscle or joint pain, chest pain or shortness of breath, or swelling in the arms or legs.
• Changes in taste or smell like loss of taste or smell have happened with Terbinex. This most often goes back to normal after Terbinex is stopped but may last for a long time or may never go back to normal. Call your doctor right away if you have a change in taste or loss of taste, weight loss without trying, change in mood like low mood (depression), or are not hungry.
• A very bad skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen. It can cause very bad health problems that may not go away, and sometimes death. Get medical help right away if you have signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in your mouth, throat, nose, or eyes.

What are some other side effects of Terbinex?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Headache.
• Belly pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Bloating.
• Gas.
• Upset stomach.
• Nose or throat irritation.
• Signs of a common cold.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If overdose is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Terbinex?

All products:

• Store at room temperature.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Tablets:

• Protect from light.

Nail solution:

• Protect from heat or open flame.

SRC: NLM .