Terbinafine and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Nev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2018

Lamisil (terbinafine) for Onychomycosis, Toenail "Never again will I take this medication to treat toenail fungus. Beware - the side effects are real and dangerous. I am a healthy young female with no prior liver issues, nor gastrointestinal issues, nor insomnia. After 6 weeks of taking this medication daily, I then saw really intense and dangerous side effects and had to stop. Diarrhea, really bad insomnia and anxiety, digestive issues (stomach pain, flatulence, grumbling), weight loss, extreme fatigue, burping up acid. I had a liver panel test done and had liver damage as well. I stopped taking it immediately and three weeks later (today) I STILL have all these side effects. Another negative of this drug is that it stays in your system for a very long time. I hope I find relief soon with this medication and have complete healing (body and toenail). I would strongly advise against taking this drug."

• POI...
• February 10, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Here is my issue with this drug: it makes absolutely NO mention at all that it can cause panic attacks or exacerbate anxiety. I took ONE pill, just one single pill, and 3 hours later I had a SEVERE panic attack, it was INTENSE! I have gone to the ER 5 times because of these panic attacks, which have caused me to think I am having a heart attack or stroke or something. I have suffered severe depression from this drug, an extremely foggy mind, extreme fatigue, extreme insomnia, extreme shortness of breath, mood swings, I have no prior history of panic attacks or depression at all. This drug has DESTROYED my life just from one tiny 250mg pill. How these side effects are not included on the damn bottle completely baffles me. This drug should be outlawed, and the producers of this drug should be sued, possibly even imprisoned. This is poison, do NOT take this drug. It is absolutely horrific, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."

• Joj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2020

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I started taking this drug 7 days ago. Yesterday, I left work feeling wiped out, anxious, and irritable. Feeling way out of sorts today. I called my doctor, and she says maybe try to ride it out, as symptoms may go away after 10-14 days. I will check back in and let you know what the rest of my experience is."

• fun...
• August 30, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "30yo F, generally healthy: My experience with terbinafine has been excellent. I'm usually pretty sensitive to meds, so I was honestly terrified to take this drug because of the reported side effects. But, after almost a full year of trying to topically cure my horrific toenails that I had neglected for about 15 years (they were so bad before I started treating them, I wish I could include photos), I finally went to the podiatrist for real treatment options. He said oral terbinafine for 12 weeks is truly the gold standard for toenail infections and that he rarely sees side effects in his patients. Cut to today; I haven't had any negative side effects after 9 weeks of treatment. I do feel a little jittery when I drink coffee, so I stopped drinking it. But that's it! Not bad, friends. Initial and repeat LFTs were totally normal. My toenails are now growing in normally for the first time in probably 5 years. My heels are smooth! TLDR: If you need it, give it a try. Good luck, I wish you the best."

• Mar...
• May 31, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I’m on week 5 but have taken this last year and gave up. I’ve learned to take this at night so you can fall asleep, and if your stomach hurts, you don’t notice, lol. Take a probiotic in the AM. This advice will help so much with your tummy. I also take milk thistle for liver support. Don’t drink alcohol! It makes your stomach hurt, coffee makes you have anxiety (it increases the levels of caffeine in your body!). I can tell a huge difference, but this is where I gave up after the 6 weeks last year. Take the full 3 months. I’m going to throw out all old shoes and all my socks near the end. Be patient. It’s taken me over a year to finally see results from my first dose. Also, after showering, blow dry your toes. Sounds silly, but this helps also. Wash your shoes with bleach. One thing I dealt with was anxiety attacks. If you can push through the rough stages of this medication (if you have any), it’ll be okay and worth it in the end! Don’t stress, it’s what I did. Liver is fine, then you're fine."

• Mar...
• May 31, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I’m on week 5 but have taken this last year and gave up. I’ve learned to take this at night so you can fall asleep, and if your stomach hurts, you don’t notice, lol. Take a probiotic in the AM. This advice will help so much with your tummy. I also take milk thistle for liver support. Don’t drink alcohol! It makes your stomach hurt, coffee makes you have anxiety (it increases the levels of caffeine in your body!). I can tell a huge difference, but this is where I gave up after the 6 weeks last year. Take the full 3 months. I’m going to throw out all old shoes and all my socks near the end. Be patient. It’s taken me over a year to finally see results from my first dose. Also, after showering, blow dry your toes. Sounds silly, but this helps also. Wash your shoes with bleach. One thing I dealt with was anxiety attacks. If you can push through the rough stages of this medication (if you have any), it’ll be okay and worth it in the end! Don’t stress, it’s what I did. Liver is fine, then you're fine."

• Der...
• October 24, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I took terbinafine for 14 weeks. I had a right big toe infection for 6 months, which then moved to the left big toe, and I wasn’t having that. I started the medication in June 2019 and recently completed it. I lost my taste, I itched like a banshee, I got worse anxiety than usual, I had bowel issues and gas, but it is working. 2/3 of each toenail is now clear. My blood tests, which were checked twice, are fine. I would do it all again if I ever got that awful toenail infection again. It was gross. Thank you, terbinafine."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 11, 2024

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "So GP has prescribed me terbinafine for my 3 fungal toenails. One of my big toenails has been suffering for over 10 years, and I started getting fungal on my other big toe and my second toe next to my little toe. I’ve had a liver blood test, and everything is all good, so I got to have another blood test in 1-2 months' time! I’m still very nervous, as I’ve had bad reactions to medications, but I’m doing this as I want my toenails back to normal again. I’ve taken 1 a few hours ago and got to take 1 tomorrow. I’m on them for about 6 months or less depending on what the GP says. At the moment, I’ve not had any side effects, just my anxiety from being anxious, of course. Will update everyone at the end of January! Best of luck!"

• Kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 20, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "This medication ruined my life. Before taking it, I was a healthy, active, and normal 25-year-old. I took this medication for 6 weeks and experienced severe gastrointestinal distress. I was bloated constantly (not from gas, just a distended stomach) in severe pain. I experienced extreme constipation, full-body fatigue, and I developed pneumonia. I still have chest pains, anxiety, and digestive issues a year and 3 months after coming off of the medication. My life will NEVER be the same. I wish I would have taken others' advice and never put this poison into my mouth."

• Sli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 5, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I took this medication for 2 months, resulting in severe diarrhea, gurgling stomach, headaches, dizziness, anxiety, and depression. Now, almost a month after stopping the drug, I maintain a bland diet and take Imodium to try to stop the gurgling stomach and persistent diarrhea. The side effects from this drug are much worse than the original problem. What doctor would prescribe a drug with such severe and long-lasting side effects to cure toenail fungus? I try to take as few prescription drugs as I can, preferring homeopathic treatment. In the future, I will take a long, hard look at alternatives to this dangerous garbage. Run, don’t walk, from a doctor prescribing this poison. I would literally rather have my nails pulled off with pliers in the future than use this drug again. I hope it hasn't damaged my liver as others have reported. I feel my trust was violated, and my body was damaged by this drug."

• Xyz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2019

For Cutaneous Candidiasis "I want to share my negative experience with a drug with you. It concerns a medication called Terbinafine Mylan 250 mg. I only have a fungal infection, and by using the drug for 5 days now, I am experiencing depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and paranoia. Less serious are diarrhea, partial loss of appetite, fatigue, and lassitude. I never knew using drugs can have such negative consequences, as this is my first negative experience with side effects, so I only wanted you to be aware."

• ALA...
• February 13, 2017

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I had an extremely negative experience of this drug. I began to take it at a time when I was experiencing mild anxiety but didn't think the drug would have any effect on my mental state. It took me 6 weeks to realize it was seriously exacerbating my mental health symptoms. I experienced extreme erratic mood swings, anxiety attacks, periods of depression, and pervasive negative thoughts, at times related to suicide. After I stopped taking the drug, my symptoms began to fade away, but I am still dealing with the consequences a month later. I would strongly discourage anyone working through mental health issues from taking this drug, at least without proper monitoring."

• rac...
• April 1, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Took this for 18 days. The day I started this drug, I also received a steroid injection into my foot. Knowing I can react to steroids, at first I thought my symptoms were related to that, but they never subsided. Symptoms were first major insomnia, too much energy. Then, after a couple of days, still insomnia but depression and tearfulness. I was given Ambien for the insomnia, but that did not help! Usually, Ambien will correct my insomnia in a day or two. In addition to the insomnia, I have anxiety, bordering on panic, peed dark-colored urine a couple of times and experienced some weird tingling once in a while. Currently, I am not working, but if I had a job, I'd probably have to take a leave of absence. My mind is so exhausted. Been off terbinafine for 3 days. With sleep aids, got 5-6 hours of sleep for the last two nights, which is amazing, but still feeling awful. Now I'm concerned about getting an addiction to sleep meds. This is one of the worst experiences of my life."

• Rya...
• May 15, 2016

For Onychomycosis, Fingernail "I took this medication for 90 days and experienced some side effects. The main one was fatigue and slight brain fog. To mitigate this effect, I would take it before bed. I also had a dull ache that would come and go near my liver, but my liver test came back fine. Another effect was that it made me slightly more agitated and anxious. I experienced no taste loss as others have experienced, though. It seems like new nails are growing in nicely, but it remains to be seen if all of the infected nail will grow out. Best of luck to anyone who gives it a shot."

• Pho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2018

For Onychomycosis, Fingernail "Stopped medication yesterday. I had taken it for 37 days. It had started to help my fingernail and toenail, but the side effects were unbearable and are still bothering me. I had severe anxiety the day before yesterday, sleep problems for several nights in a row, my joints hurt, the gland on the right side of my neck hurts, I itch. I hope the side effects will go away. I've called the doctor, but he hasn't gotten back to me. If I don't feel better over the Labor Day weekend, I may go to the ER..."

• Cru...
• October 22, 2011

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I've had nasty, thick, crusty toenails my whole life and was always too afraid to take the pill for it. I got over it when my toenail started turning black! I have three weeks left of a 3-month course of terbinafine, and I'm impressed. The side effects are scary when you read about them, however, I experienced none other than initial anxiety about taking them. I've done my two liver panels and have been fine. Didn't notice much change in the toenails until now - one of my toenails has been thick and crusty since I was a little girl, and tonight I noticed a little sliver of healthy nail coming through. Feels like a miracle! Stick with this - it sounds like a scary medication, but if you do your liver testing, you'll be fine."

• CSa...
• July 28, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "This medication is working for me, but like many who have written reviews here, I am experiencing terrible side effects. I don't know if I can hold out for the full 3-month course (I'm only on week 4). Anxiety, heart racing, dizziness, tingling, headaches, numbness in my chest, and brain fog. Thank God for this forum for letting me know that these side effects exist because I almost went to the ER thinking I was experiencing a heart attack. I also didn't know that it makes you more sensitive to caffeine, so I will watch how much coffee, tea, Coke, etc., that I am drinking. My toenail is mostly grown out after only 4 weeks, but I've read so many stories about it coming back that I'm worried about stopping."

• Mil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2018

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Awful drug! After four days of use, I developed anxiety and depression and could not function physically. I also had multiple side effects: diarrhea, blurred vision, dizzying effects, joint pain, headache, etc. It’s been three days off the pills, and I am still feeling cruddy. Not as bad as the previous week but still very tired and anxious with headaches and foggy brain. Be very careful with this one."

• Kem...
• June 6, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "The drug does work. I had onychomycosis on all my toenails. After the first 12-week course, 8 out of 10 toenails no longer had onychomycosis. I made a ~6 month break to be certain that I would need a second round of treatment. I am now on the 8th week of the second round of treatment. I am combining it with biotin, which accelerates nail (and hair) growth, so I can detect sooner if terbinafine has any effects on the remaining 2 onychomycosis-affected toenails. Seems to be working, the new part of the toenails is clear from onychomycosis. Regarding side effects, as some other reviewers mentioned, I do get symptoms of increased levels of anxiety and depression. Those are hard to tell as I am a cynic, but one thing for sure, for 1 to 3 hours after taking terbinafine, I get a foggy mind and fatigue. I take the drug and biotin with a meal after a working day."

• Mar...
• August 7, 2018

For Onychomycosis, Fingernail "Started taking the pills as recommended by the doctor about 2 months ago. The first week of taking them, I didn't really feel any side effects, but as time passed, I started getting stomach aches and feeling nauseous. After two months of taking them as recommended, I had to go to the emergency room for an anxiety attack, which then became discomfort in my chest, hard breathing, really bad anxiety, and cold sweats, feeling like I had a fever almost. Also another side effect was the dark urine and diarrhea. After leaving the emergency room, they told me that everything checked out, there were no issues other than the anxiety I was feeling. Honestly, it has gotten my nails better, but there are more natural ways of taking care of fungal infections on hand and nail, and way better for you. If I would have known that ahead of time, I would have never taken this medication in the first place."

• Mar...
• August 7, 2018

For Onychomycosis, Fingernail "Started taking the pills as recommended by the doctor about 2 months ago. The first week of taking them, I didn't really feel any side effects, but as time passed, I started getting stomach aches and feeling nauseous. After two months of taking them as recommended, I had to go to the emergency room for an anxiety attack, which then became discomfort in my chest, hard breathing, really bad anxiety, and cold sweats, feeling like I had a fever almost. Also another side effect was the dark urine and diarrhea. After leaving the emergency room, they told me that everything checked out, there were no issues other than the anxiety I was feeling. Honestly, it has gotten my nails better, but there are more natural ways of taking care of fungal infections on hand and nail, and way better for you. If I would have known that ahead of time, I would have never taken this medication in the first place."

• Flo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2021

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "This medication definitely helped my toenail fungus, however, the side effects were no joke. In the first few weeks, I had mild GI side effects, like heartburn and bloating, but by weeks 4-6, I was undoubtedly suffering from all sorts of odd mental effects. I felt very 'detached', I had a very high level of 'edginess' and anxiety, and cried and got downright depressed on and off throughout the day much more easily. I had brain fog and trouble concentrating, and I had legitimate short-term memory issues, something I have NEVER experienced before in my life. I would go to the grocery store or go to the gym, and later that day I would truly forget if I went. On at least one occasion, when I was driving, I, at least temporarily (a few moments), completely forgot where I was going. It was not severe, it was not debilitating. But no doubt, it was terrifying. I, in fact, did not even make the connection to the terbinafine until stopping it. Within a few days, I immediately felt better."

• joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 15, 2022

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Took this for 4.5 months (250 mg/day) for toenail fungus. First 3 months, nails were getting better, and I had no side effects, but after that, increasing anxiety and sleep problems. Finally realized that the worst anxiety attacks were always 1-3 hours after taking terbinafine. At this point, anxiety was really bad, and I slept 1-4 hours/night with sleeping pills. Thanks to this forum, I learned that others were also facing the same side effects. Stopped terbinafine (was supposed to take it for 6 months), and my head started to work again. Anxiety was better already after 2 days, and sleeping recovered after 2 weeks. Now, 2 months since I stopped, and I am almost back to normal (some problems still exist). Toenails improved a lot, but it was definitely not worth it. Also lost 10 kg weight during this, that was positive."