What is terbinafine used for?

Terbinafine shows a good and mostly fungicidal in vitro antimycotic activity against dermatophytes such as Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton, and Microsporum species. 

Terbinafine also shows a high but often fungistatic in vitro activity against isolates of various Aspergillus species. The activity against pathogenic yeasts is quite variable. Many isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans and Candidia parapsilosis show an in vitro sensitivity towards terbinafine, although isolates ofCandida albicans, Candida (Torulopsis) glabrata, and Candida tropicalis are mostly resistant or have rather high MIC levels.

Indications

Oral and topical treatment of dermatophytoses and onychomycoses. The substance also shows activity in the topical treatment of pityriasis versicolor and cutanous candidiasis. 250 mg of terbinafine are given once daily by mouth for 2 to 4 weeks for therapy of tinea cruris and tinea corporis. Especially for tinea pedis, treatment may have to be continued for up to 6weeks.

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