Terbinafine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

What is terbinafine?

Uses • cures most athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) between the toes. Effectiveness on the bottom or sides of foot is unknown. • cures most jock itch (tinea cruris) and ringworm (tinea corporis) • relieves itching, burning, cracking and scaling which accompany these conditions

What kind of drug is terbinafine?

The FDA classifies terbinafine as an allylamine antifungal. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take terbinafine with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run terbinafine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is terbinafine sold under?

We track 3 terbinafine-containing products in the U.S.: Lamisil, Terbinafine Hydrochloride and Lamisil at. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does terbinafine come in?

Across the brands we track, terbinafine is currently marketed as topical, powder, tablet, solution and spray/inhaler, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic terbinafine?

Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic terbinafine product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.