Terbinafine

Terbinafine hydrochloride, also known under the trade name Lamisil, is a antifungal developed by Novartis. It is highly hydrophobic and tends to accumulate in hair, skin, nails, and fatty tissue.

It is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system.

Medical uses

Terbinafine is mainly effective on the dermatophyte group of fungi.

As a 1% cream or powder, it is used topically for superficial skin infections such as jock itch (tinea cruris), athlete's foot (tinea pedis), and other types of ringworm (tinea corporis). Terbinafine cream works in about half the time required by other antifungals.

Oral 250-mg tablets are often prescribed for the treatment of onychomycosis, a fungal nail infection, typically by a dermatophyte or Candida species. Fungal nail infections are located deep under the nail in the cuticle to which topically applied treatments are unable to penetrate in sufficient amounts. The tablets may, rarely, cause hepatotoxicity, so patients are warned of this and may be monitored with liver function tests. Alternatives to oral administration have been studied. In 2009, results from a clinical study of a new formulation (terbinafine in transfersomes, referred to as TDT-067) for topical treatment of onychomycosis were reported by Celtic Pharma.