What it means
A drug that stops fungi from building their cell walls. Creams and sprays sold over the counter treat athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm. Tablets treat fungal infections of the toenails and fingernails over 6 to 12 weeks. Tablets can rarely cause liver injury and changes in taste or smell.
For the nurse
Liver tests are checked before oral treatment. Teach the client to report tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, yellow skin or a rash. Nails look better only as new nail grows, which takes months. Lamisil is often confused with Lamictal.
At a glance
| Drug class | antifungal (allylamine) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Lamisil, Lamisil AT |
| Spanish | terbinafina |
| Also written | Lamisil |
Easy to confuse with
lamotrigine
An anticonvulsant drug used to prevent seizures and to keep mood stable in bipolar disorder.
Related terms
infection
The entry and growth of germs, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites, in the body.