The use of the anti-fungal medication terbinafine has been a game-changer for many doctors. It can present a risk of injury to the body when taken in pill form.

“This article gives information about terbinafine’s use and possible side effects, as well as ways to lower that risk and protect your health.”

Discuss any medication concerns with your healthcare team.

Terbinafine is an antifungal medication used to treat certain types of fungal and yeast infections. It can be purchased in a cream, gel, or spray to help treat conditions like ringworm, jock itch, and athlete’s foot. A pill version can be prescribed to treat fungal nail infections.

It was approved for use as a cream for a period of time in 1999 and 1992. It is sold under the brands of Terbinex and Lamisil.

The kidneys excrete terbinafine after it is eaten. It is important that these organs are functioning.

terbinafine has been known to have negative effects on the liver. The United States approved the oral version of the drug.

In fact, a study dating back to 1996 evaluated use of the medication in 9,879 UK patients — and while there was a risk for adverse effects, the study found liver problems in only 0.1% of study participants.

That study and other more recent research indicates that preexisting liver conditions may play a role in why a very small number of individuals experience liver issues while on terbinafine. There’s also evidence suggesting that some individuals are more susceptible based on a genetic link to liver issues when taking terbinafine.

terbinafine tablets are not recommended for patients with liver disease.

It’s true that liver injury is a potential side effect of terbinafine. But liver failure does not commonly occur.

In fact, liver injury from terbinafine use only occurs in an estimated 1 in 50,000 to 120,000 prescriptions.

It usually happens within the first 6 weeks of taking terbinafine. The research shows that the likelihood of having elevated liver enzyme levels requiring stopping treatment increases when terbinafine treatments last longer than 8 weeks. If you need to take terbinafine for a long time, your doctor may want to request a blood test.

Patients reporting symptoms can lead to the discovery of damage to the bile duct. Symptoms can include:

In some cases, no symptoms are initially present. In these cases, blood testing may help identify terbinafine-related liver problems. (Doctors can use liver function blood tests to determine if there are elevated liver enzyme levels in the blood.)

Before taking terbinafine, it is important to discuss your health history with your doctor. Blood may be drawn from you before you get terbinafine.

Once you start taking terbinafine, it’s important stay alert to symptoms like There is a problem of jaundice., nausea, fatigue, and itching that may indicate liver problems. When you know what to look for, you can — and are more likely to — notify your doctor quickly. Early detection can help prevent serious liver problems!

If you will be on terbinafine for a long time, your doctor may suggest that you have a laboratory monitoring.

If terbinafine use is causing harm to your body, your doctor may want you to stop taking the medication. In cases of acute damage, the health of the liver improves after several months of stopping terbinafine use.

A transplant may be necessary in cases of severe damage to the liver.

The brand names for Terbinafine are Terbinex and Lamisil. The oral form of medication can cause damage. There is a small chance that the medication will cause damage to the body.

Before starting Terbinafine, talk to your doctor about any questions you may have. They can answer questions about the symptoms of the disease.