Terbinafine

Terbinafine
Clinical data
Trade namesLamisil, others
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa699061
License data
Routes of
administration
By mouth, topical
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
BioavailabilityReadily absorbed: 70–90%
Protein binding>99%
MetabolismLiver
Elimination half-lifeHighly variable
Identifiers
IUPAC name
  • [(2E)-6,6-dimethylhept-2-en-4-yn-1-yl](methyl)(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl)amine
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.119.605
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC21H25N
Molar mass291.438 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
SMILES
  • C(#C\C=C\CN(C)Cc2cccc1ccccc12)C(C)(C)C
InChI
  • InChI=1S/C21H25N/c1-21(2,3)15-8-5-9-16-22(4)17-19-13-10-12-18-11-6-7-14-20(18)19/h5-7,9-14H,16-17H2,1-4H3/b9-5+ Y
  • Key:DOMXUEMWDBAQBQ-WEVVVXLNSA-N Y
 NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Terbinafine, sold under the brand name Lamisil among others, is an antifungal medication used to treat pityriasis versicolor, fungal nail infections, and ringworm including jock itch and athlete's foot.[6][2][7] It is either taken by mouth or applied to the skin as a cream or ointment.[6][8]

Common side effects when taken by mouth include nausea, diarrhea, headache, cough, rash, and elevated liver enzymes.[6] Severe side effects include liver problems and allergic reactions.[6] Liver injury is, however, unusual.[9] Oral use during pregnancy is not typically recommended.[6] The cream and ointment may result in itchiness but are generally well tolerated.[2] Terbinafine is in the allylamines family of medications.[6] It works by decreasing the ability of fungi to synthesize ergosterol.[6] It appears to result in fungal cell death.[10]

Terbinafine was discovered in 1991.[11] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[8] In 2022, it was the 255th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1 million prescriptions.[12][13]

  1. ^ "Lamisil Dermgel". Healthdirect. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Lamisil 1% w/w Cream – Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) – (eMC)". electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC). 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Lamisil AT- terbinafine hydrochloride cream". DailyMed. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Lamisil AT- terbinafine hydrochloride aerosol, spray". DailyMed. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Lamisil AT Jock Itch- terbinafine hydrochloride cream". DailyMed. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Terbinafine Hydrochloride". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  7. ^ Crawford F (July 2009). "Athlete's foot". BMJ Clinical Evidence. 2009. PMC 2907807. PMID 21696646.
  8. ^ a b Organization WH (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06.
  9. ^ Yan J, Wang X, Chen S (August 2014). "Systematic review of severe acute liver injury caused by terbinafine". International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy. 36 (4): 679–683. doi:10.1007/s11096-014-9969-y. PMID 24986266. S2CID 12867807.
  10. ^ "Terbinafine". www.drugbank.ca. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  11. ^ Ravina E (2011). The Evolution of Drug Discovery: From Traditional Medicines to Modern Drugs. John Wiley & Sons. p. 90. ISBN 978-3-527-32669-3. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016.
  12. ^ "The Top 300 of 2022". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Terbinafine Drug Usage Statistics, United States, 2013 - 2022". ClinCalc. Retrieved 30 August 2024.