Terbinafine is an antifungal medicine. It's used to treat skin infections caused by a fungus (yeast), including:
- athlete's foot
- fungal nail infections
- ringworm
- jock itch (sometimes called dhobie itch), an infection in the groin area
- pityriasis versicolor – this causes small patches of scaly and discoloured skin, often on your back, chest, upper arms, neck and stomach
- candidal skin infections
Terbinafine comes as a cream, gel or spray for treating athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch, pityriasis versicolor and candidal skin infections. There's also a liquid (solution) for athlete's foot. You can buy these from a pharmacy or shop.
It also comes as tablets for treating fungal nail infections and other fungal infections. Your doctor may recommend tablets if they think creams, gels, sprays or solution are not likely to work. Terbinafine tablets are only available on prescription.
Key facts
- Many fungal infections get better within 1 to 2 weeks of treatment with terbinafine. Nail infections can take 3 months or more.
- The cream, gel and spray usually start to work within a week, and the tablets can take between 2 weeks and a few months to work.
- When using terbinafine on your skin, the most common side effect is irritation in the area where you put it on.
- If you're taking the tablets, the most common side effects are having a smaller appetite than usual, pain in your joints or muscles, or upset stomach.
- It's important to finish the course of terbinafine, even if your symptoms get better. If you stop using it too soon the fungal infection could come back.
- Do not give blood while taking terbinafine tablets. You'll need to wait at least 7 days after finishing the tablets before giving blood.