Generic Lamisil

 

 

Title: Lamisil Terbinafine Oral Drug: Essential Things to Know & Follow

 

Lamisil with the generic name Terbinafine is a prescription drug used for the treatment of fungal infections of the skin, fingernails, and toenails. Though the drug is available in several forms such as tablet, cream, and solution, we’ll discuss here about its tablet form, its class and mechanism, essential things to remember and discuss with a doctor.

 

Tablet Form

 

Each Lamisil tablet contains Terbinafine hydrochloride (equivalent to 250 mg base) which is the active ingredient in this medication. In addition, there are a number of inactive ingredients such as colloidal silicon dioxide, NF; magnesium stearate, NF; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, USP; sodium starch glycolate, NF; microcrystalline cellulose, NF.

 

Drug Class & Mechanism

 

Terbinafine hydrochloride is basically a synthetic allylamine antifungal medication. Extremely lipophilic in nature, it tends to amass in skin, nails, and fatty tissues. Throwing light on its mechanism of action, Terbinafine works by inhibiting the capability of fungi to produce chemicals known as sterols that are a vital part of the membrane encompassing fungal cells and holding them together. This leads to weakening of the cell membrane. Lamisil (Terbinafine) has proved to be effective in treating fungal infections than two other antifungal agents such as griseofulvin and itraconazole.

 

Essential Things to Remember

 

Before starting Terbinafine treatment, you should make sure that you don’t have kidney or liver disease, or an autoimmune disease such as psoriasis or lupus. It is advisable to continue the medicine for the entire duration of the treatment prescribed by your doctor even though your symptoms may improve after few days and before complete elimination of the infection.

 

Cases of viral infection like common cold or flu cannot be treated with Lamisil (Terbinafine). Some patients using this drug have developed serious damage to liver, ultimately resulting in liver transplant or death. However, there is no clear evidence of Lamisil actually causing this severe medical condition. In majority of cases, patients were suffering from such ailment even before using Terbinafine. Seek emergency medical help if you have symptoms of liver impairment like stomach pain, nausea, itching, loss of appetite, clay-colored stools, or yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). The chances of suffering from these symptoms don’t depend on whether or not you have had liver ailments before.

 

Do blood tests at regular intervals to ascertain that Lamisil (Terbinafine) is not producing harmful effects. Your liver function may also require to be checked. All scheduled appointments with your healthcare provider must be abided by. You may begin to experience the return of nails to their usual appearance after several months of Lamisil therapy.

 

Essential Things to Discuss with Your Doctor

 

The use of Lamisil (Terbinafine) is prohibited in patients who are allergic to the drug or any of its ingredients. A dose adjustment or special tests are essential to be carried out if you have kidney disease, liver disease, or an autoimmune disorder such as lupus or psoriasis.

 

The drug is listed in the FDA pregnancy category B that means it is least expected to cause damage to an unborn baby. However, you should still inform your doctor if you’re pregnant or going to become pregnant during treatment. In the same way, Lamisil can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor before the treatment if you’re breastfeeding a baby.