I was given terbinafine for toe nail fungal infection in Sept 2008. During the first two weeks I felt malaise, dizziness and fatigue and when I went for a walk my legs were wobbly. I changed to a lacquer after four weeks, but now, I sept 2009, I still feel weak and fatigued and this is very distressing. Can this be ascribed to the terbinafine and how could I prove it?
After a course of terbinafine I feel malaise, dizziness and fatigue and wobbly legs one year later?
Question posted by l'Ecrervisse on 22 Sep 2009
Last updated on 17 April 2025 (2 weeks ago) by Mustardseed
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
15 Answers
Mustardseed
17 April 2025
I too have been on this drug and I started to notice after about 5-6 days I noticed pain in my knees aching so bad I was limping. After 3 weeks pain has gotten significantly worse. I could not blame this pain on anything else. After 2 weeks I noticed I developed a rash similar in appearance to a heat rash on my legs and arms and the back side of both hands, slight itching but nothing major with the itch. Into first thought maybe it was due to a lotion but I had not changed that. The only thing different was the oral Lamisil for the toe nail fungus. I have decided after some research and stumbling on your post to discontinue the medication. I called my doctors office to see if there is something else I can use that isn’t quite do severe and I’m currently waiting for that response. If this medication is this strong to cause these symptoms I want no part of it. Hopefully your symptoms have been resolved and I hope that mine resolve soon.
mofofunk
24 Nov 2023
I was started on this tablet 3 days ago to treat fungal toenail infection. Since taking ONE tablet only on that day i have felt CONSTANT dizziness and increased fatigue. I will not take anymore of these tablets, if i feel this bad off ONE tablet i dread to think what i would of been like had i taken anymore! Straight in the bin!
Brenetta Glass
3 June 2023
I was placed on Terbinafine 250 mg and after the first week, I exhibited the following side effects: severe muscle spasms, it felt like my tibia was twisting in my right ankle, I had to be extremely careful on how I moved because a slight twist in my leg caused spasms in my foot and the tibia felt like it was breaking through the skin. I am an extremely active 68 year old, I swim 3x a week, work out 3 days a week, and have PT twice a week. I have been extremely fatigued and have to force myself to slowly get out the bed. I have stopped taking Terbinafine and in three days the terrible spasms and pain in the ankle has stopped. At night I can still feel that a spasm is trying to present but I relax and the feeling passes. I will live with the discolored toenails and return to pedicures.
rexarus
11 Sep 2021
I find this discussion fascinating. I just finished my 59th day of a 12 week, 84 day course of terbinifine 250mg for toenail fungus. I was in for a normal exam with my dermatologist when he offered up this treatment.
I was reluctant to take an oral medication that is known to be hard on the liver for 12 weeks, but after a liver function test, he convinced me that it wasn't a risky decision.
My experience is very similar to others described here. During my first month on the drug, I did not have any significant symptoms, other than feeling ever so slightly more drowsy, and that wasn't an issue because it seems in a way to make me sleep better. The amount of perceived drowsiness was so slight.
However, things started to change as I got 8 weeks into the treatment. I started waking up, and rising from the bed with a bout of vertigo (room spinning), which would last for about 10 seconds.
I started doing the Epley maneuver to treat vertigo, and consulted and ENT. The ENT told me that he seriously doubted that Terbinifine would cause these symptoms so late in the treatment. The ENT gave me a hearing test, which showed normal hearing and ear pressure. He was more inclined to believe it was BPPV - not normally a serious disorder, and unlikely Terbinifine, but I am skeptical. Also, the ENT never diagnosed me with the BPPV. So if it is BPPV, It might be a coincidence that I'm taking Terbinifine a the same time, but I don't think so. My feeling is it is Terbinifine that's behind these symptoms. This drug is strong. It has a long half-life, and gets well ingrained in your body tissues.
The vertigo isn't the most serious issue because it seems pretty limited and controllable by doing Epley maneuver. However, what is striking to me is the constant state of light-headedness that seems to be occurring from this drug. Clearly, this drug makes a lot of people walk around all day dizzy, and that dizziness hopefully goes away once the treatment is terminated.
Now that I think I have isolated the problem, I have to decide 1st, if I really want to finish out the remaining 25 days prescribed, and 2nd, do I have to worry about this dizziness being a permanent addition after I stop the terbinifine. I am trying to decide if it's worth it to suffer through the dizziness for 25 more days just to correct one of my big toenails, or rather just stop now. Also, the question of, am I doing any long term damage to my body for the sake of the vanity of one toenail?
jjweust
13 March 2024
I was also prescribed 12 weeks of Terbinafine to cure toe fungus on 3 toes (both big toes and one of the smaller ones). After finishing 8 weeks the issues started. 1) When the lights were out after going to bed, I felt like the room was closing in on me and I had to get up, walk around the house or in the back yard, then ultimately sleep in a lounge chair in my living room with the blinds open (I still didn't sleep well), 2) I developed massive constipation and actually gained several pounds during the week, then I would have to take a dose of magnesium Citrate liquid once per week to relieve the blockage, 3) severe stomach pain in the upper right side of my stomach area (where the liver resides), 4) continual nausea. Nothing smelled or tasted good and I ate very little for 8 weeks. 5) Dizziness. I was continually dizzy most of the day, 6) Congestion: My sinuses were constantly congested, complicating the sleep issue.
After one week of this (week 8 to 9) I decided to stop the medication and asked for an appointment with my doctor, who had me first do a blood test. My blood worked looked fine, except my AST liver enzyme. It was elevated significantly over the normal level, which indicates potential liver damage or liver inflammation. My doctor told me to take 4 weeks off, then resume the remainder of the treatment pulsing (two weeks on, two weeks off). I have decided this isn't worth it, so I'm not going to finish the treatment. I have to say, after stopping only a week ago, I feel much better, have an appetite, the constipation is gone and I'm sleeping better. Plus, all three toes now have a demarcation line, where there is clean nail growing behind the fungus, so I think it may grow out and be clean. Yeehaa! This was the toughest medical treatment I've ever had.
Angelaec87
4 Feb 2021
Hi everyone. I finally finished my 12 week course of terbinafine and if I could do it all over again I would not. I have been so depressed because of the fatigue, and dizziness. At first I thought I had a thyroid problem so I had some blood work done. It didn't occur to me that maybe it was the terbinafine until about 8 weeks in, and by then I figured that I have come this far I might as well finish the medication. Being only 2 days off the medication and still having no energy I found this fourm. Although I wouldn't wish these side effects on anyone I am finding comfort in talking to people who share this experience. Each time I get up I get light headed, I have had a horrible headache and my energy level is very low. I was hoping that once I stopped taking this medication I would feel better, but reading other comments and learning about the shelf life I don't think I am going to feel better as soon as I thought. Thanks for sharing your experience with me.
Ncif828
3 Jan 2021
Just stopped taking Lamisil turbinafine a little over a week ago. I am experiencing the same side effects as most of the people on this thread including dizziness, fatigue and anxiety. The dizziness I’m experiencing is more of an off balance feeling if anyone can relate? I thank God it’s not a lightheaded feeling as I am in the military and that would make my life extremely challenging, however, the anxiety is often accompanied with a rapid heart beat which does prove to be a bit frightening at times. I’m praying that these symptoms go away on their own. I wish the doctor would have communicated these possible side effects before having me go on this medication. I was assured by family, friends, and then the physician that it was like any other pill, very effective, yet virtually harmless.
I can say now that I was on it for one month, the improvement to my feet was very minimal.
The skin between my toes began to heal and there was minor improvement to the nail of my hammer toe on my left foot. But I was also using creams and powders and replacing my socks at lunchtime for that one month that I was on it.
I would not recommend this medication to anyone who has a very active lifestyle as I’m also experiencing the malaise that a few others here seem to also have noticed.
I haven’t had bad anxiety in over a year and now with my body gradually processing the medication out of my system, I can say it’s becoming a daily occurrence.
On top of changing my socks 1-2X day, I will be treating the fungus with topical creams, powders, and other natural treatments like ACV and epsom salt foot baths for the time being. This medication has greatly discouraged me from trying another drug to cure my feet.
I pray that your and my symptoms resolve themselves on their own as the side effects are not worth the minimal progress that the medication provides at improving the athlete’s foot.
Bhevia
13 July 2020
I took this drug for three weeks for a toe fungus. Swelling, bloating, acute diarrhea, nausea, headache, tired. Overall I feel horrible. Loss of appetite and sleep. Food tastes awful. I stopped taking it on my own. The podiatrist was not pleased I stopped. This drug is poison. I also have less frequent urination. Poison. I hope it gets out of my system soon. Looks like from what I have been reading I have about three months of feeling awful. Anyone has any idea what to do to flush it out quicker?
Maguire2024
6 April 2025
Thank u I'm also going through this it took out my infection but side effects took me out I can't walk rite I full asleep Al the time body in mind confused I hope after ages it will go away will please sumone give me sum good news I'm 40 it's knocked me on my ass
Dyfrgi
13 June 2020
I took it for 6 months and experienced many side effects, some came and some went. I stopped taking it yesterday on the advice of my doctor because of fatigue. I did start to feel dizzy towards the end too, so I figured that was enough. It will affect everyone differently and I don't think it's very well researched (the information guidelines with mine says nothing about depression and apparently 1 in 1000 experience dizziness) which is surely incorrect.
MinMax17
9 July 2019
It’s interesting that there haven’t been more comments about the effectiveness of the medication. Did it improve your condition at all?
Personally, after three months of treatment, I did not find any improvement. The aftereffects that occurred were debilitating and threatening to several areas of my body, in addition to the fatigue, muscle ache and malaise. More devastating was that I had three months of a bacterial infection in my left eye, and then three months of the same bacterial infection in my right eye, requiring several emergency room visits to an eye institute in Miami, scraping and cultures of my cornea, and courses of three different antibiotic eye drops every hour. I saw my opthamologist 3x a week until improvement. It resulted in scar tissue in both eyes and a significant loss of vision in both. I believe this drug is a danger in many ways. Any thoughts or similar issues? Please advise...
Jharrington
12 July 2019
Just to follow up my earlier comment above oi have been off of the drug for a little over a week and just today I am starting to feel like myself again. This drug is toxic and I have no doubt could cause any of the problems people have had. I am not a person who won’t take medicine if it is going to help me. I have never had such a terrible side effect. Please stay off of it if you possibly can. Good luck to all of you.
Jharrington
9 July 2019
I was given terbinafine oral for a persistent toenail fungus. I took it for 6 weeks and as each week went by I became more and more depressed and anxious. I take meds for both conditions but this was beyond any depression I have ever known. It was unbelievable. Finally it occurred to me to check the side effects and sure enough they were listed right there. The doctor never told me this could happen all he was worried about were my liver labs which were fine. I stopped taking it almost a week ago but i have read that it takes a long time to get out of your body. I’m feeling somewhat better at least I’m not weeping and driving my poor husband crazy. This frug is done seriously bad stuff I would not recommend it to anyone.
Koola
4 June 2019
I took terbinafine for 250mg for 2 days after 3 weeks of use of Lamisil cream, after the first dose of terbinafine I had headache and tingling sensations but by the evening of the second dose , I had severe stomach pain and rumbling tommy with fever initially limited to my abdomen, the nigh of the second dose I had muscle and joint pains, numbness and tingling sensations all over. I have since been having fleeting muscle pains, rumbling tommy, sour/acid taste with occasional chills. The worse part is sleep disturbance and waking up feeling weak and flu-like.
I took the last tablet on 14/03/19 and 10 weeks after stopping this drug, I still have muscle pains , though not as severe as the first 3-4 weeks. After gardening or walking long distance especially I experienced some tingling and urticaria and clammy sensations on my skin, this is usually followed by weakness.
I have been using promethazine at nigh( antihistamine) for about 5weeks now.
Can anyone share their experience of reacting to terbinafine and how long it takes to resolve please.
paporad
13 March 2019
Same here, just started taking it 3 days ago and i feel extremely weak dizzy about to pass out.
Kelada
13 March 2019
This drug is pure poison! I took it 4 days and started feeling exhausted after day 2 to the point of sleeping with nightmares most all day. I was extremely weak. My legs felt like jelly. Horrendous bloating and nausea. I stopped it but still feel very weak and uncertain. I have no appetite but forcing food. How long will this stay in my system?
Hbanna
21 July 2018
Hello,
I came across your review... I understand that it’s been long time ago now but can you please give us an update of how you’re doing now ? When did the symptoms actually go away ? About a month and a half ago i took Terbinafine for 20 days without any side effects but then at day 21 I started feeling weak, fatigued and dizzy all day long without improvement. On day 26 and after testing my blood, brain and any possible cause other than the medication itself, I decided to stop taking it. No one doctor was totally convinced it was actually the cause of my symptoms and I did my own research and found out about the long terminal half life of this medication... I mean after doing the calculations and with a Terminal half life of 200-400 hours it would take up to 3 months til the medication actually gets cleared from one’s system.
Today is day 17 after stopping the med and Im terrified symptoms won’t improve any soon as I have so many things to do and it’s definetly affecting my quality of life. I actually work in the medical field, I read about the medication before taking it and got many medical good opinions about how safe this drug is. But after this i can tell that it’s definetly not worth it to put one’s whole body system under such a horrible stress. Please let me know when did your complaints actually stop and if there’s anything I can do about it to make things easier.
Thank you.
MinMax17
25 Aug 2018
Hi. I've been following this thread with great interest. I'm into my sixth week of Terbinafine 250mg and while I can't connect my symptoms definitively to this drug, I know I feel pain in both knees whereas I only had minor discomfort in my left knee before starting the medication. Nothing stopped me before, but now I can't walk without pain. Going on vacation last week was difficult. Luckily, I don't feel any insomnia or other symptoms, other than an increased lack of interest in socializing with friends or caring much about a lot of things. I am wondering if the nail condition you all experienced was cleared up, or if it returned after discontinuing the meds? My husband just told me to stop taking it, but I really want results. What to do???
Toutzie
11 Sep 2018
Hi Hbanna, how are you today ? I hope you feel better. I am dealing with the same problem, I took Terbinafine for 6 weeks, I stopped 2 weeks ago and I still feel terribly tired, with some dizziness and lethargy. Maybe we can share our improvement and support each other (sorry for my english, I'm french).
Thank you
l'Ecrervisse
11 Sep 2018
I am sure the terbinafine has now cleared my system; but perhaps the answer lies in a general history of reactions to drugs. For instance, before an operation I have been given the usual injection in the back of the hand to induce anaesthesia quickly but it leaves me with a heavy hangover. The one time an anaesthetist agreed to use gases only I went under easily and woke from a pleasant dream feeling alert and refreshed with no after effects. The most recent occasion I had an operation I told the anaesthetist, a Sri Lankan lady, that I had bad experiences after this drug. She agreed not to give me it. I was given a very heavy pre-med and when on the operating table I felt her putting the needle in the back of my hand but couldn't stop her. I had a heavy hangover following this and when I went to the foyer of the hospital to wait for a taxi I noticed a nurse watching me. This nurse brought over a wheelchair and made me sit in it, then wheeled me out to the taxi.
I complained and was asked to come and see the anaesthetist, which I did. I waited for 45 minutes before she appeared then was taken to a small office where I had the most stupid conversation ever. She asked me, 'How much alcohol you are drinking?' I told her on average less than one unit a day. To this she said, 'So you are liking being drunk!' I said I had never been drunk in my life, but she said : 'If you are drinking alcohol you are liking being drunk!' I said that was not true, but she then said: 'If you are liking being drunk you are liking this anaesthetic!' We went round in circles for a while, the chief anaesthetist burst into the room and stood over me in a menacing way, jabbing his finger into my face. I had to push him gently away. So much for patient choice! However, it does illustrate a sensitivity to drugs. I have also been on medication for high blood pressure and had a reaction to two of the drugs, when my hair began to fall out.
Marvell
2 Oct 2009
Highly unlike that these symptoms which have persisted for a year is due to side effects from terbinafine, but then it may be. Please discuss your symptoms with your doctor
matt_grey
13 Sep 2010
Interesting that you report these symptoms as I too had a lot of problems towards the end of an 8 week terbinafine course including, insomnia, fatigue, headaches, rash, constipation, acid reflux, taste loss, anxiety, dizziness. 9 months of the meds, I'm quite a bit better but I'm still having big problems such as constant sleep problems, light-headed / dizzy sensation and bouts of anxiety and fatigue all of which have made my life very miserable and it is only improving at a ridiculousy slow pace. Research of peer reviewed scientific literature clearly shows that terbinafne stays in one's system for months following discontinuation and has a terminal half-life of up to 156 days due to its abiliy to reside in certain tissues. Even taking these pills for 1 week, the drug is still detectable 3 months after stopping.
Therefore, based on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetic properties of terbinafine, it is entirely plausible that this drug is the cause of both your and my continued problems. I only hope it will get better and I hope you are near to 100% recoered from this.
Hbanna
28 July 2018
Hello,
I came across your review... I understand that it’s been long time ago now but can you please give us an update of how you’re doing now ? When did the symptoms actually go away ? About a month and a half ago i took Terbinafine for 20 days without any side effects but then at day 21 I started feeling weak, fatigued and dizzy all day long without improvement. On day 26 and after testing my blood, brain and any possible cause other than the medication itself, I decided to stop taking it. No one doctor was totally convinced it was actually the cause of my symptoms and I did my own research and found out about the long terminal half life of this medication... I mean after doing the calculations and with a Terminal half life of 200-400 hours it would take up to 3 months til the medication actually gets cleared from one’s system.
Today is day 17 after stopping the med and Im terrified symptoms won’t improve any soon as I have so many things to do and it’s definetly affecting my quality of life. I actually work in the medical field, I read about the medication before taking it and got many medical good opinions about how safe this drug is. But after this i can tell that it’s definetly not worth it to put one’s whole body system under such a horrible stress. Please let me know when did your complaints actually stop and if there’s anything I can do about it to make things easier.
Thank you.
Related topics
infections, fungal infections, terbinafine
Further information
- Terbinafine uses and safety info
- Terbinafine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Terbinafine (detailed)
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