What are Terbinafine tablets?
Terbinafine are antifungal tablets that contain an active ingredient called terbinafine. This attacks the source of fungal nail infections to reduce symptoms and treat infection. The tablets are small and easy to swallow, and a normal course for fungal nail infections can last for a few months.
Terbinafine tablets are also available under the brand name Lamisil. The main difference between Terbinafine and Lamisil is the branding: Terbinafine is a generic treatment and is made by several companies, while Lamisil is a branded tablet made by just one company.
How does Terbinafine work?
Fungal nail infections happen when yeast or mould from the environment enter small cracks in the skin around your nail. This fungus is strengthened by chemicals called sterols. Sterols hold the membrane of the fungi together so that it can grow.
Terbinafine attacks sterols and prevents them from strengthening the fungi. Without the sterols the infection membranes breakdown and the infection is killed.
What doses of Terbinafine tablets are there?
Terbinafine comes in a single dosage size - 250mg. You can take it as a daily course, or as something called ‘pulsed therapy’, where you’ll take it for one week at the start of every month but at a higher dose.
Terbinafine is also available as a cream, gel and spray, and your clinician may suggest a short combined course of tablets and cream.