About terbinafine

Terbinafine is an antifungal medicine. It's used to treat skin infections caused by a fungus (yeast), including:

• athlete's foot
• fungal nail infections
• ringworm
• jock itch (sometimes called dhobie itch), an infection in the groin area
• pityriasis versicolor – this causes small patches of scaly and discoloured skin, often on your back, chest, upper arms, neck and stomach
• candidal skin infections

Terbinafine comes as a cream, gel or spray for treating athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch, pityriasis versicolor and candidal skin infections. There's also a liquid (solution) for athlete's foot. You can buy these from a pharmacy or shop.

It also comes as tablets for treating fungal nail infections and other fungal infections. Your doctor may recommend tablets if they think creams, gels, sprays or solution are not likely to work. Terbinafine tablets are only available on prescription.