Formulary
Terbinafine: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Terbinafine clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 5 min read
Terbinafine: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Terbinafine clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Tinea pedis**
- **Adult** (To The Skin Using Cream): Apply 1-2 times a day for up to 1 week, to be applied thinly.
- **Adult** (By Mouth Using Tablets): 250 mg once daily for 2-6 weeks.
**Tinea corporis**
- **Adult** (To The Skin Using Cream): Apply 1-2 times a day for up to 1-2 weeks, to be applied thinly, review treatment after 2 weeks.
- **Adult** (By Mouth Using Tablets): 250 mg once daily for 4 weeks.
**Tinea cruris**
- **Adult** (To The Skin Using Cream): Apply 1-2 times a day for up to 1-2 weeks, to be applied thinly, review treatment after 2 weeks.
- **Adult** (By Mouth Using Tablets): 250 mg once daily for 2-4 weeks.
**Dermatophyte infections of the nails**
- **Adult** (By Mouth Using Tablets): 250 mg once daily for 6 weeks-3 months (occasionally longer in toenail infections).
**Cutaneous candidiasis,Pityriasis versicolor**
- **Adult** (To The Skin Using Cream): Apply 1-2 times a day for 2 weeks, to be applied thinly, review treatment after 2 weeks.
**Tinea pedis for terbinafine**
- **Child** (To the skin using cream): Apply 1-2 times a day for up to 1 week, to be applied thinly.
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 10-19 kg)** (By mouth using tablets): 62.5 mg once daily for 2-6 weeks.
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 20-39 kg)** (By mouth using tablets): 125 mg once daily for 2-6 weeks.
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 40 kg and above)** (By mouth using tablets): 250 mg once daily for 2-6 weeks.
**Tinea corporis for terbinafine**
- **Child** (To the skin using cream): Apply 1-2 times a day for up to 1-2 weeks, to be applied thinly, review treatment after 2 weeks.
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 10-19 kg)** (By mouth using tablets): 62.5 mg once daily for 4 weeks.
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 20-39 kg)** (By mouth using tablets): 125 mg once daily for 4 weeks.
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 40 kg and above)** (By mouth using tablets): 250 mg once daily for 4 weeks.
**Tinea cruris for terbinafine**
- **Child** (To the skin using cream): Apply 1-2 times a day for up to 1-2 weeks, to be applied thinly, review treatment after 2 weeks.
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 10-19 kg)** (By mouth using tablets): 62.5 mg once daily for 2-4 weeks.
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 20-39 kg)** (By mouth using tablets): 125 mg once daily for 2-4 weeks.
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 40 kg and above)** (By mouth using tablets): 250 mg once daily for 2-4 weeks.
**Tinea capitis for terbinafine**
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 10-19 kg)** (By mouth using tablets): 62.5 mg once daily for 4 weeks.
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 20-39 kg)** (By mouth using tablets): 125 mg once daily for 4 weeks.
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 40 kg and above)** (By mouth using tablets): 250 mg once daily for 4 weeks.
**Dermatophyte infections of the nails for terbinafine**
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 10-19 kg)** (By mouth using tablets): 62.5 mg once daily for 6 weeks-3 months (occasionally longer in toenail infections).
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 20-39 kg)** (By mouth using tablets): 125 mg once daily for 6 weeks-3 months (occasionally longer in toenail infections).
- **Child 1-17 years (body-weight 40 kg and above)** (By mouth using tablets): 250 mg once daily for 6 weeks-3 months (occasionally longer in toenail infections).
**Cutaneous candidiasis, Pityriasis versicolor for terbinafine**
- **Child** (To the skin using cream): Apply 1-2 times a day for 2 weeks, to be applied thinly, review treatment after 2 weeks.
Cautions
With oral use Psoriasis (risk of exacerbation); risk of lupus erythematosus With topical use Contact with eyes and mucous membranes should be avoided
Side effects
General side-effects: Common or very common Skin reactions Specific side-effects: Common or very common With oral use Appetite decreased; arthralgia; diarrhoea; gastrointestinal discomfort; gastrointestinal disorder; headache; myalgia; nausea Uncommon With oral use Taste altered With topical use Pain Rare or very rare With oral use Agranulocytosis; alopecia; cutaneous lupus erythematosus; dizziness; hepatic disorders; malaise; neutropenia; photosensitivity reaction; sensation abnormal; severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs); systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); thrombocytopenia; vertigo Frequency not known With oral use Anaemia; anxiety; depressive symptom; fatigue; fever; hearing impairment; influenza like illness; pancreatitis; pancytopenia; rhabdomyolysis; serum sickness-like reaction; smell altered; tinnitus; vasculitis; vision disorders With topical use Hypersensitivity Side-effects, further information Liver toxicity With oral use; discontinue treatment if liver toxicity develops (including jaundice, cholestasis and hepatitis). Serious skin reactions With oral use; discontinue treatment in progressive skin rash (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis).
Interactions
**Other interactions (1):**
- No drug interactions are known with the topical forms of terbinafine.
Pregnancy
With topical use: Manufacturer advises use only if potential benefit outweighs risk- animal studies suggest no adverse effects. With oral use: Manufacturer advises use only if potential benefit outweighs risk-no information available.
Breast feeding
With topical use: Manufacturer advises avoid-present in milk. Less than 5% of the dose is absorbed after topical application of terbinafine; avoid application to mother's chest. With oral use: Avoid-present in milk.
Hepatic impairment
With oral use: Manufacturer advises avoid (risk of increased exposure).
Renal impairment
With oral use: Caution if creatinine clearance less than 50 mL/minute or serum creatinine concentration greater than 300 micromol/litre (limited information available). M See Prescribing in renal impairment .
Medicinal forms
Tablet,Cream
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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