Terbinafine and Depression: What Users Say

• Tan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2020

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I am 23. I have toenail fungus on my right big toenail. It makes my nail very thick, ragged, and yellow, it's very ugly. I really want it to go away so I can wear sandals and heels, but this medication, terbinafine, is giving me depression, mood swings. I am very irritable, and I don’t care about life anymore and hate everyone. I tried taking it for 2 weeks, stopped, and the symptoms went away. So after 3 weeks, I tried to take it again, and right after 2 days of taking it, I’m having those symptoms again!"

• 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."

• USE...
• March 13, 2008

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Toenail "I took this medicine for 3 weeks and have lost all sense of taste. It has been 2 weeks and I have lost 12 lbs. They say that this is a rare side effect, yet I have found many websites that have many complaints of the same effect. Not worth my time or money. I am depressed, sick, weak all the time, and mad as hell I ever took it and my toenails still look bad."

• Nic...
• December 19, 2017

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Toenail "I previously took fluconazole for toenail fungus, but it did not work, and it actually spread to my other big toe. Frustrated, I asked my doctor to prescribe me terbinafine. I took it for 3 months, and it appears that my nails are getting better. The side effects are horrible. I had an almost daily headache, felt dizzy at times, nauseous once in a while, and the worst symptom was the accompanying depression that came with the drug. I'm glad the course is over. Don't want to do that again. Here's to hoping the fungus is gone."

• Soo...
• January 15, 2018

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Toenail "I have had toenail fungus for about 8 years and managed to get it out of one nail only to have it spread to another. I found it incredibly distressing when it spread to be on three of my nails, so I started the pills. The first week I felt fine, with maybe a little loose stool. By the second week, I’ve had terrible headaches, diarrhea, cramps, fatigue, and depression. I don’t think I can continue with this medication."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Dep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2022

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "My boyfriend took this medication for a toenail fungus. After six weeks of taking it, he became manically depressed. His mood swings stayed mostly in the lows. He had thoughts that were negative all the time. He had extreme negative behavior changes. It caused him to become a different person. He was cold, numb, and closed off. After being off the medication 3 to 4 weeks, he slowly began to get back to his former self. However, he still struggles with his mind constantly having negative thoughts and some depression. He is still not quite himself. This drug is toxic."

• Blo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2022

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Toenail "Started Lamisil 3 weeks ago and am now experiencing ringing in my ears, diarrhea, no appetite, and weight loss. Which I really don't mind the weight loss so much;). It's the taste of food also that doesn't appeal to me. My vision has gotten cloudy. However, I've read so many good reviews and bad reviews. I'm hoping that I go through a little discomfort to be able to finally have good-looking feet. Cause in CA, it's all about the teeth, tits, and toes! I'm currently on 250 mg 1X day. I hope that the side effects go away after I finish the prescription. Good liver tests so far. I just want the ringing noise to go away. Also, to note I've been depressed. Don't know if that's a part of the side effects because I am normally a very happy, outgoing kind of gal. I've been stuck in bed for two days now, barely eating anything. I'll let you know what the results are after."

• Bub...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Fingernail "I have been dealing with sensitive, red, and swollen feet for 2 decades. I have spent tens of thousands on Drs. and misdiagnoses. Not to mention pain to the point of requiring a narcotic script to be able to walk on my feet. And I’m an old-school outdoorsman raised by WWII vets in the woods of N.E. No whining allowed. I accidentally shone a black light on my feet while examining A/C ducts at home, they were lime green. I told my doctor this and was prescribed Lamisil for 6 months. 3 months in now, a little irritable, a little depressed, very fatigued. But I can walk without pain. I wish someone had figured this out back in the 1990s when it started. Seriously, it’s been a lifesaving drug."

• 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."

• Sas...
• February 10, 2016

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "After 6 weeks of taking terbinafine, I've developed a foul taste in my mouth, which I can't get rid of. Everything tastes horrible, I've lost weight, and am feeling depressed. It's been 11 days since I stopped taking the pills. I've read it should go away after 2-5 weeks, but in rare cases, it is permanent. I'm so hoping taste returns to normal soon, I'm going on holiday in a week, and it will be ruined if this continues - as will my life be if it's permanent! My toenail wasn't even that bad, I wish I'd never taken this."

• foo...
• February 23, 2021

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I had very bad fungal infections in all my toenails and eventually lost most of them. I was prescribed a 3-month course of terbinafine. The drug cured my nail infections completely, but the loss of taste was complete, long-lasting, and very distressing. Not only that, but depression, lethargy, insomnia, and many other nasty side effects took ages to recede. Today, three years later, I'm still not the 15 km running, horse riding fit 50-something I was."

• 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."

• sam...
• January 19, 2012

"I have been taking it now for 3 months, noticed slight improvement. Maybe I am not one of the lucky ones and have to take it for longer. I suffered no side effects apart from depression, mood changes. I have tried to research this to see if anyone else has had the same side effect, but I have only come across one or two. Although the depression is bad, I am going to carry on with the medicine because I feel I can fight it and will be very happy when my two toes have cleared up. Please let me know if you are suffering from the same side effect, because some may say it's not worth it if it makes you feel so terrible."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."