Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Terbinafine tablets may be taken with food or on an empty stomach. However, it is best to take terbinafine oral granules with food.

To help clear up your infection completely, it is very important that you keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if your symptoms begin to clear up or you begin to feel better after a few days. Since fungal infections may be very slow to clear up, you may need to take this medicine for several weeks or months. If you stop taking this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return.

This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take the doses at the same times every day. If you need help in planning the best time to take your medicine, check with your doctor.

If you are using the oral granules, you may sprinkle the contents on a spoonful of pudding or other soft, non-acidic food such as mashed potatoes. This mixture must be swallowed immediately without chewing. Do not use applesauce or fruit-based foods. If you will need two packets of oral granules with each dose, you may sprinkle the content of both packets on one spoonful or two spoonfuls of non-acidic food.

Avoid caffeine (coffee, soda, chocolate) while you are using this medicine. Terbinafine may cause caffeine to stay in your body longer than usual.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage form (granules):
    • For tinea capitis (fungus infections of the scalp):
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 250 milligrams (mg) once a day for 6 weeks.
      • Children 4 years of age and older and weighing over 35 kilograms (kg)—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 250 mg once a day for 6 weeks.
      • Children 4 years of age and older and weighing 25 kg to 35 kg—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 187.5 mg once a day for 6 weeks.
      • Children 4 years of age and older and weighing less than 25 kg—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 125 mg once a day for 6 weeks.
      • Children younger than 4 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
  • For oral dosage form (tablets):
    • For onychomycosis (fungus infections of the fingernails):
      • Adults—250 milligrams (mg) once a day for 6 weeks.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
    • For onychomycosis (fungus infections of the toenails):
      • Adults—250 milligrams (mg) once a day for 12 weeks.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
    • For tinea corporis (ringworm of the body):
      • Adults and teenagers—250 milligrams (mg) once a day for 2 to 4 weeks.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
    • For tinea cruris (ringworm of the groin; jock itch):
      • Adults and teenagers—250 milligrams (mg) once a day for 2 to 4 weeks.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
    • For tinea pedis (ringworm of the foot; athlete's foot):
      • Adults and teenagers—250 milligrams (mg) once a day for 2 to 6 weeks.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you miss a dose of terbinafine tablets, take it as soon as you can. If your next regular dose is less than 4 hours away, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.