Side Effects Of Terbinafine

Like all medicines, terbinafine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Side effects usually go away when you stop using or taking the medicine.

Common side effects

This common side effect of terbinafine cream, gel, spray or solution happens in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope:

These common side effects of terbinafine tablets happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if the advice on how to cope does not help and these side effects bother you or do not go away.

Serious side effects

Some people can have serious side effects when using or taking terbinafine. These happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.

If you're prescribed tablets, stop taking them and call a doctor or call 111 immediately if:

• the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin, or if you have pale poo and dark pee - these can be signs of liver problems
• you bruise more easily or get infections more easily - these can be signs of a blood disorder
• you have a high temperature with a rash, itchy skin and unusual tiredness, or if you notice any purple spots under your skin - these can be signs of an inflammation of the blood vessels called vasculitis
• you get severe pain near the top of your stomach that spreads to your back - this can be a sign of an inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis)
• your muscles feel weak or painful, or your pee is a dark red-brown - these can be signs of muscle problems

Serious allergic reaction

It happens rarely but it is possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to terbinafine.

Call 999 now if:

• your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
• your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
• your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• someone faints and cannot be woken up
• a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

Long-term side effects

If you take terbinafine tablets for a long time, there's a small chance that they can affect your liver. This happens to less than 1 in 1,000 people. Your doctor may ask you to have a blood test to check that your liver is working properly.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of terbinafine. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Reporting side effects

You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.

Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.

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