Is your fingernail or toenail yellow, thick, and breaking easily? It could be a fungal infection of the nail. Terbinafine is a special medication that doctors use to treat these long-lasting, stubborn fungal infections. So today, let's learn everything about this medication, just like talking to a friend.
What is Terbinafine?
Simply put, terbinafine is a drug that belongs to the class of antifungals. It works by destroying the fungal cells that grow in our body, especially on our nails. You can often find this drug in Sri Lanka under brand names like Lamisil.
The most important thing is that this medicine only works for fungal infections . It does not cure diseases caused by bacterial or viral infections.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication
Before your doctor prescribes this medicine, he or she will need to know your complete medical history. This is important for your safety. If you have any of the following conditions, be sure to tell your doctor.
- Liver disease: If you have had or currently have liver disease, you should tell us about it. This is because this medicine works in the body through the liver. So if the liver is weak, it can cause problems.
- Allergies: Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to terbinafine or any other medicine, food, or dye.
- Pregnancy: If you are pregnant, or are planning to have a baby soon, inform your doctor before starting this medication.
- Breastfeeding: If you are a breastfeeding mother, you should definitely mention that as well.
How should I use this medicine?
The method of using this medicine is very simple, but it must be followed exactly.
- Take the prescribed dose with a glass of water, as prescribed by your doctor.
- Try to take your medicine at the same time every day. That way, you won't forget and the medicine will work better.
- This can be taken before or after meals. However, if you experience stomach upset or heartburn, it is best to take it with food.
- Most importantly: Continue using this treatment until your doctor tells you to stop. Even if your nail seems to be healing, take the medicine for the full course of treatment. Otherwise, the infection may return.
What if you take too much medicine? (Overdosage)
If you think you have taken too much medicine, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
This medicine has been prescribed for you only . Never share this medicine with anyone else, even if that person has the same symptoms as you.
What if I miss a dose of medication?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is less than 4 hours until your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once.
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
There are a few things you need to be careful about while taking this medicine.
- Visiting the doctor: Go to your doctor's appointments and get yourself checked. Your doctor may also want to do blood tests to check things like your liver function.
- Be patient: This medicine will take some time to show results. Maybe a few months. This is because it takes time for a new, healthy nail to fully grow in. So be patient with the treatment.
- Be careful with the sun: Some people's skin may become sensitive to the sun while taking this medication. So avoid going out in the sun as much as possible. If you do go out, wear long-sleeved clothing and apply a good sunscreen.
- Serious skin reactions: This is very rare, but it's important to be aware of. If you develop a red rash on your skin, along with fever and body aches, a few weeks or months after starting the medication, tell your doctor right away. This rash may turn purple, blister, and start to peel. Or if the rash is accompanied by swelling of the face or lips, that's also a serious sign.
Possible side effects and drug interactions
Like any medicine, terbinafine can cause side effects in some people. It can also interact with some other medicines. Let's look at this table.
| Type of side effect | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Liver injury | Pain in the upper right side of the stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stools, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing of the eyes or skin, and extreme fatigue. |
| Serious skin reactions | Fever is accompanied by redness, blistering, and peeling of the skin (which can also occur inside the mouth). |
| Change in taste and smell | A change or complete loss of the sense of taste or smell of food. |
| Changes in mental status | Depression, increased anxiety. |
| Lupus-like syndrome | Joint pain, swelling, butterfly rash on the face, fever, extreme fatigue. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Digestive system problems | Stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, nausea. |
| Headache | General headache. |
| Other medications that may interact with this medicine | |
| Medicines that should never be taken together | Pimozide, Thioridazine |
| Other medications that may cause interactions | Beta blockers, caffeine, cyclosporine, cimetidine, warfarin, rifampin, some medications for irregular heartbeat, antifungals (fluconazole, ketoconazole), and some medications for mental illness. |
This list is just a few examples, so it's important to tell your doctor about all the medications you're taking (including vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements) .
Take-Home Message
- Terbinafine is a medication that should only be taken on the advice of a doctor.
- Before starting the medication, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and all other medications you are taking.
- If you notice signs of liver damage (yellowing of the eyes, dark urine) or a serious skin reaction (rash with fever), inform your doctor immediately.
- Since it takes several months to see results from this medication, be patient and complete the treatment for the entire duration prescribed by the doctor.
- This medicine is for you only. Never share it with anyone else.
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