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LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-.

LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet].

Show detailsBethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-.

Drug Records

Search term < PrevNext > Terbinafine

Jay H. Hoofnagle, MD.

Author Information and Affiliations

Authors

Jay H. Hoofnagle, MD1.

Affiliations

1 Liver Disease Branch, NIDDK, NIHEmail: vog.hin@jelganfooH

Last Update: January 30, 2026.

OVERVIEW

Introduction

Terbinafine is an orally and topically active allylamine fungicidal agent which is used to treat superficial fungal infections of the skin and nails. Oral terbinafine has been clearly linked to rare instances of acute liver injury that can be severe and sometimes fatal.

Background

Terbinafine (ter' bin a feen) is a synthetic allylamine derivative that has potent activity against many dermatophytes that affect skin and nails, including Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Trichophyton rubrum. The antifungal activity of terbinafine is believed to be due to the selective inhibition of fungal squalene epoxidase, which increases squalene to toxic levels, thus killing the fungal cell. Terbinafine was approved for use in the United States in a topical form in 1992 and as an oral antifungal agent in 1998. Topical terbinafine is available over-the-counter as a 1% cream or spray for treatment of dermatophyte infections of the skin (tinea pedis, cruris or corporis). Oral terbinafine is available by prescription only in tablets of 250 mg generically and under the brand name of Lamisal. Oral terbinafine is used in the therapy of onychomycosis or fungal infections of the fingernails or toenails (tinea unguium) typically in a dose of 250 mg once daily for 6 weeks (fingernails) or 12 weeks (toenails). The most common side effects of oral terbinafine include dyspepsia, diarrhea, flatulence, nausea, abdominal pain, change in taste and smell, headache, pruritus, and rash. Rare but potentially severe adverse reactions include neutropenia, liver injury, severe skin rash including exfoliative dermatitis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and Stevens Johnson syndrome.

Hepatotoxicity

Oral therapy with terbinafine is a well-known cause of acute liver injury that can be severe and even fatal. In addition, terbinafine therapy is associated with transient elevations in serum aminotransferases, occurring in less than 1% of patients which are generally asymptomatic and short-lived even without stopping therapy. The estimated probability of developing elevated serum aminotransferase levels requiring stopping treatment is about 0.3% for 2 to 6 weeks of treatment and 0.4% for treatment longer than 8 weeks.

Clinically apparent liver injury from terbinafine is rare (1 in 2,500 to 1:25,000 persons exposed), but many case reports and even case series have been described in the literature. Liver injury usually arises within the first 6 weeks of therapy. The pattern of injury can be either hepatocellular or mixed initially but it typically evolves into a cholestatic pattern which can be prolonged (Cases 1 and 2). Some cases may progress to vanishing bile duct syndrome. Signs of hypersensitivity (rash, fever, eosinophilia) are not common and, when present, are generally mild-to-moderate in severity. Autoantibody formation is rare. In addition, cases with severe hepatocellular injury with acute liver failure have been described. These instances are marked by precipitous onset with marked elevations in serum aminotransferase levels and progressive jaundice and hepatic failure. Terbinafine has also been implicated in cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, in which case the hepatic injury may be overshadowed by rash and allergic symptoms.

Likelihood score: A (well established cause of clinically apparent liver injury).

Mechanism of Injury

The acute hepatotoxicity caused by terbinafine appears to be part of a hypersensitivity reaction, although the mechanism has not been defined. Genome-wide association studies identified polymorphisms within the HLA region of chromosome six to be linked to cholestatic cases of drug induced liver injury, and particularly terbinafine. HLA sequencing has confirmed these associations and shown that most subjects of European ancestry with terbinafine hepatotoxicity are carriers of HLA-A* 33:01 (heterozygosity), an allele found in less than 1% of control populations. The HLA-A* 33:03 allele which shares 99% sequence identity with 33:01 has been linked to terbinafine hepatotoxicity in a small number of Asian subjects. These associations indicate that the injury is probably immunologically mediated.

Outcome and Management

The product label for terbinafine contains a warning about hepatotoxicity from its use and recommends testing for routine liver tests before starting and at intervals during therapy. Terbinafine should be promptly discontinued if evidence of liver injury arises during treatment. Most cases of acute hepatic injury from terbinafine resolve within 3 to 6 months of stopping the medication. In some instances, however, the injury is severe and unremitting, leading to acute liver failure and either death or need for liver transplantation. A severe outcome is more likely if terbinafine is continued after the appearance of symptoms and signs of liver injury. Terbinafine has also been implicated in several cases of acute bile duct injury, followed by prolonged cholestasis associated with vanishing bile duct syndrome. Perhaps more frequent is severe cholestasis followed by persistence of mild to moderate elevations in alkaline phosphatase without jaundice or symptoms which may represent a mild and partially reversable form of vanishing bile duct syndrome. There appears to be no cross sensitivity to hepatic injury between terbinafine and griseofulvin, another agent used for onychomycosis.

Drug Class: Antifungal Agents

CASE REPORT

Case 1. Prolonged cholestasis due to terbinafine.(1)

A 24 year old man developed progressive loss of appetite, pruritus and jaundice within days of stopping a 3½ week course of terbinafine (250 mg daily) for onychomycosis of the toenails. On initial evaluation one week later, he was jaundiced and had excoriations. There was no fever, urticaria or rash. Laboratory tests showed serum bilirubin of 6.6 mg/dL and elevations in both ALT (584 U/L) and alkaline phosphatase (222 U/L). Tests for hepatitis A, B and C were negative, he did not drink alcohol to excess, and he took no other medications. Ultrasound of the abdomen showed no evidence of biliary obstruction. A liver biopsy showed intrahepatic cholestasis and injury to small bile ducts, with reduction in the number of ducts. Despite having stopped terbinafine, his symptoms and laboratory test abnormalities worsened over the next few weeks. Pruritus was treated with antihistamines and cholestyramine. Six weeks after stopping terbinafine, his symptoms began to improve and 16 weeks after stopping his liver tests were normal (Table).

Key Points

Medication:	Terbinafine (250 mg daily)
Pattern:	Hepatocellular→Cholestatic (R=7.5→1.1)
Severity:	3+ (jaundice, hospitalization)
Latency:	24 days to symptoms, 32 days to jaundice
Recovery:	Complete recovery after 12 weeks
Other medications:	None

Laboratory Values

Time AfterStarting	Time AfterStopping	ALT*(U/L)	Alk P*(U/L)	Bilirubin*(mg/dL)	Other
1 month	8 days	584	222	6.6	Admission
11 days	420	370	12.0	Normal ultrasound
21 days	210	530	20.5	Intense pruritus
27 days	190	550	25.0
29 days	205	525	30.9	Liver biopsy
2 months	5 weeks	310	490	28.0
6 weeks	250	490	21.0	Symptoms improved
7 weeks	175	400	10.0
8 weeks	40	670	5.0
3 months	9 weeks	200	1.4	Asymptomatic
10 weeks	40	110	0.5
Normal Values		<42	<120	<1.2

*Values estimated from Figure 2.

Comment

This was a typical case of terbinafine hepatotoxicity arising within 4 weeks of starting therapy and worsening for several weeks thereafter despite the prompt discontinuation. The initial laboratory results suggested a hepatocellular pattern of injury, but by the time of peak bilirubin elevation the serum enzyme pattern was clearly cholestatic. The prominence of jaundice and pruritus also argued for a cholestatic injury. A liver biopsy showed evidence of injury to bile ducts and ductopenia, which was clearly severe enough to cause prolonged jaundice, but not severe enough to cause persistence of cholestatic features and qualify as vanishing bile duct syndrome.

Case 2. Terbinafine induced cholestatic hepatitis.(2)

A 43 year old man with history of diabetes and onychomycosis developed fatigue and flu-like symptoms one month after starting treatment with terbinafine taken orally once daily. He developed severe itching one week later and stopped terbinafine after a total of 40 days. Several days later he complained of nausea, vomiting and became jaundiced. Laboratory investigations (Table 1) revealed bilirubin of 6.8 mg/dL, ALT 269 U/L and alkaline phosphatase 433 U/L. Tests for hepatitis A, B and C were negative as were autoantibodies. Imaging of the liver showed no evidence of extrahepatic obstruction. Five days after stopping terbinafine, prednisone was started. Prednisone was initially given intravenously and then orally in tapering doses over 4 weeks (60 mg, 40 mg, 20 mg, 10 mg for one week each). The itching and jaundice improved and he became asymptomatic a month after initial presentation. Liver test abnormalities resolved over the next several months.

Key Points

Medication:	Terbinafine
Pattern:	Mixed (R=3.7)
Severity:	3+ (jaundice, hospitalization)
Latency:	34 days
Recovery:	Symptomatic improvements after 4 weeks
Other medications:	Milrinone lactate

Laboratory Values

Time AfterStarting	Time AfterStopping	ALT(U/L)	Alk P(U/L)	Bilirubin(mg/dL)	Other
Pre	Normal	Normal	Normal
0	Terbinafine started
34 days	Fatigue, flu-like illness
40 days	0	Terbinafine stopped			Severe itching, dark urine
3 days	269	443	6.8	Nausea and vomiting
6 days	234	489	6.2	Prednisone started
7 weeks	7 days	269	508	9.1
10 days	686	667	11.3
2 months	17 days	775	625	6.4
3 months	1 month	99	232	2.1	Prednisone stopped
Normal Values		<41	115	<1.2

Comment

A 43 year old man developed fatigue approximately 5 weeks after starting terbinafine and itching and jaundice one to two weeks later. The symptoms (itching) suggested a cholestatic hepatitis, although the initial pattern of enzyme elevations was “mixed” (R=3.7). While corticosteroids may improve itching and jaundice, they have not been shown to ameliorate or shorten the course of illness. The patient became asymptomatic after 4 weeks, but was lost to follow up. Follow up is important, as terbinafine hepatotoxicity has been linked to cases of chronic cholestasis and vanishing bile duct syndrome, and his liver tests were not normal when he was last seen and prednisone stopped.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

REPRESENTATIVE TRADE NAMES

Terbinafine – Generic, Lamisil®

DRUG CLASS

Antifungal Agents

COMPLETE LABELING

Product labeling at DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, NIH

CHEMICAL FORMULA AND STRUCTURE

DRUG	CAS REGISTRY NUMBER	MOLECULAR FORMULA	STRUCTURE
Terbinafine	91161-71-6	C21-H25-N

CITED REFERENCES

1.Fernandes NF, Geller SA, Fong TL. Terbinafine hepatotoxicity: case report and review of the literature. Am J Gastroenterol 1998; 93: 459-60. [PubMed: 9517658]2.Fontana RJ, Cirulli ET, Gu J, Kleiner D, Ostrov D, Phillips E, Schutte R, et al. The role of HLA-A*33:01 in patients with cholestatic hepatitis attributed to terbinafine. J Hepatol. 2018;69:1317-1325.. [PMC free article: PMC6472700] [PubMed: 30138689]

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

References updated: 30 January 2026

Abbreviations; HLA, human leukocyte antigen; iv, intravenous.

Zimmerman HJ. Antifungal agents. In, Zimmerman HJ. Hepatotoxicity: the adverse effects of drugs and other chemicals on the liver. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1999, pp. 609-11.(Expert review of hepatotoxicity of antifungal agents published in 1999; reports that terbinafine has been implicated in at least 10 cases of hepatic injury, usually mixed pattern of enzyme elevations and 1 case of possible vanishing bile duct syndrome).
Moseley RH. Antifungal agents. Antibacterial and antifungal agents. In, Kaplowitz N, DeLeve LD, eds. Drug-induced liver disease. 3rd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2013, pp. 470-3.(Review of hepatotoxicity of antifungal agents mentions that many case reports of terbinafine hepatotoxicity have been published, that latency is 4 to 6 weeks, typically with a mixed enzyme pattern, sometimes with bile duct injury and occasionally with acute liver failure).
Bennett JE. Antimicrobial agents: antifungal agents. In, Brunton LL, Halal-Dandan R, Knollman BC, eds. Goodman & Gilman’s The pharmacological basis of therapeutics. 13th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2018, pp. xxxxxx.(Textbook of pharmacology and therapeutics mentions that oral terbinafine is more effective than itraconazole for nail onychomycosis).
Lowe G, Green C, Jennings P. Hepatitis associated with terbinafine treatment. BMJ 1993; 306: 248. [PMC free article: PMC1676754] [PubMed: 8443524](52 year old man developed abdominal pain and jaundice 2 weeks after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 1.7 mg/dL, ALT 470 U/L and AlkP 193 U/L], resolving within a month of stopping).
Hay RJ. Risk/benefit ratio of modern antifungal therapy: focus on hepatic reactions. J Am Acad Dermatol 1993; 29: S50-4. [PubMed: 8315062](Review article on hepatotoxicity of antifungal agents, griseofulvin, ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole and terbinafine; does not recommend routine monitoring, but stresses need to discontinue agent if there are symptoms of hepatic injury).
van ‘t Wout JW, Herrmann WA, de Vries RA, Stricker BHC. Terbinafine-associated hepatic injury. J Hepatology 1994; 21: 1115-7. [PubMed: 7963410](Two cases of hepatitis due to terbinafine; 63 year old man and 52 year old woman who developed jaundice 38 and 31 days after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 10.6 and 7.3 mg/dL, ALT 194 and 446 U/L, and Alk P 201 and 296 U/L], resolving slowly but completely by 12 weeks).
Ihre-Lundgren C, Frisell J, Bergman U. [A patient treated with terbinafine. Intrahepatic biliary stasis is a severe adverse effect]. Lakartidningen 1995; 92: 1112-3. Swedish. PMID: 7700115 [PubMed: 7700115](43 year old man developed fatigue and jaundice 6 weeks after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 10.9 mg/dL, ALT 312 U/L, Alk P 690 U/L], worsening for 4 weeks, found to have intrahepatic gallstones, resolving over 12 weeks).
Lazaros GA, Papatheodoridis GV, Delladetsima JK, Tassopoulos NC. Terbinafine-induced cholestatic liver disease. J Hepatol 1996; 24: 753-6. [PubMed: 8835752](58 year old woman developed jaundice 7 weeks after starting terbinafine and presented 18 days later with jaundice [bilirubin 16.7 mg/dL, ALT 470 U/L, Alk P 934 U/L], resolving slowly over the 6 months after stopping).
Boldewijn OY, Ottervanger JP, Mostart CM, Janssens AR, Calame J, Jonkers GJ. [Hepatitis attributed to the use of terbinafine]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1996; 140: 669-72. Dutch. PMID: 8668241 [PubMed: 8668241](71 year old developed severe cholestasis [bilirubin 7.9 mg/dL, ALT 321 U/L] and pruritus that persisted for 10 months, after stopping 6 week course of terbinafine).
Vantaux P, Grasset D, Nougue J, Lagier E, Seigneuric C. [Acute hepatitis related to the ingestion of terbinafine]. Gastroenterol Clin Biol 1996; 20: 402-3. French. PMID: 8758509 [PubMed: 8758509](68 year old man developed malaise and fever 23 days after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 1.8 mg/dL, ALT 9 times ULN, Alk P 4 times ULN], with rapid improvement and resolution within 1 month of stopping).
Dwyer CM, White MI, Sinclair TS. Cholestatic jaundice due to terbinafine. Br J Dermatol 1997; 136: 976-7. [PubMed: 9217846](40 year old man developed jaundice and pruritus 6 weeks after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 5.6 mg/dL, ALT 165 U/L, Alk P 256 U/L], resolving within 10 weeks of stopping).
Mallat A, Zafrani ES, Metreau JM, Dhumeaux D. Terbinafine-induced prolonged cholestasis with reduction of interlobular bile ducts. Dig Dis Sci 1997; 42: 1486-8. [PubMed: 9246051](75 year old woman developed weakness followed by jaundice and pruritus several days after completing a 3-week course of terbinafine [bilirubin 5.2 rising to 7.3 mg/dL, ALT 277 U/L, Alk P 375 U/L]; pruritus persisted and biopsy at 6 months showed decrease in bile ducts; GGT still abnormal 17 months later).
Shiloah E, Horowiz M, Zecler E. [Terbinafine-induced cholestatic liver injury]. Harefuah 1997; 133: 11-2, 80-1. Hebrew. PMID: 9332048 [PubMed: 9332048]
Tejada García M, Llvona Hevia AM, Martín Arias L, García-Pando AC. [Terbinafine and cholestatic hepatitis]. Med Clin (Barc) 1997; 109: 356. Spanish. PMID: 9379769 [PubMed: 9379769](58 year old man developed jaundice 40 days after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 13.3 mg/dL, ALT 136 U/L, Alk P 728 U/L], 6 months later, he was anicteric but still had mild serum aminotransferase elevations).
Vivas S, Rodríguez M, Palacio MA, Cadenas F, Lomo J, Rodrigo L. [Acute hepatitis associated with terbinafine]. Gastroenterol Hepatol 1997; 20: 456-8. Spanish. PMID: 9445740 [PubMed: 9445740](59 year old man developed abdominal pain and dark urine 32 days after starting terbinafine, presenting with jaundice 1 week later [bilirubin 13.3 rising to 37 mg/dL, ALT 136 U/L, Alk P 728 rising to 1258 U/L], with prolonged cholestasis requiring a year for full resolution; seems to be the same case as Tejada Garcia [1997]).
Hall M, Monka C, Krupp P, O'Sullivan D. Safety of oral terbinafine: results of a postmarketing surveillance study in 25,884 patients. Arch Dermatol 1997; 133: 1213-9. [PubMed: 9382559](Results of prospective postmarketing surveillance in 25,884 patients treated with terbinafine for an average of 13 weeks; adverse events reported in 10.5%, largely gastrointestinal upset [4.9%] and dermatologic [2.3%]; hepatobiliary events in 55 patients [0.2%], 45 with asymptomatic ALT elevations, 5 with nonspecific symptoms and 5 with jaundice).
Abdel-Rahman SM, Nahata MC. Oral terbinafine: a new antifungal agent. Ann Pharmacother 1997; 31: 445-56. [PubMed: 9101008](Extensive review of clinical efficacy of terbinafine for superficial fungal infections; low rate of adverse events ~2% to 7%, asymptomatic ALT elevations in 0.5%, severe hepatitis in 1:120,000).
Fernandes NF, Geller SA, Fong TL. Terbinafine hepatotoxicity: case report and review of the literature. Am J Gastroenterol 1998; 93: 459-60. [PubMed: 9517658](24 year old man developed jaundice and pruritus 3.5 weeks after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 6.6 rising to 30.9 mg/dL, ALT 584 U/L, Alk P 222 U/L], biopsy showing bile duct injury; resolving within 3 months of stopping).
Gupta AK, del Rosso JQ, Lynde CW, Brown GH, Shear NH. Hepatitis associated with terbinafine therapy: three case reports and a review of the literature. Clin Exp Dermatol 1998; 23: 64-7. [PubMed: 9692307](Three cases, 1 man and 2 women, ages 54, 42 and 74 years, presenting after 3, 4 and 4 weeks with jaundice [bilirubin 8.4, 5.3 and 10.5 mg/dL, ALT 407, 521 and 333 U/L, Alk P 273, 214 and 157 U/L], slow resolution and no or little follow up on two cases).
Agarwal K, Manas DM, Hudson M. Terbinafine and fulminant hepatic failure. N Engl J Med 1999; 340: 1292-3. [PubMed: 10215503](48 year old woman developed acute liver failure after 5 days of terbinafine therapy, ultimately requiring successful emergency liver transplantation; few details given).
García Rodriguez L, Duque A, Castellsague J, Pérez-Gutthann S, Stricker B. A cohort study on the risk of acute liver injury among users of ketoconazole and other antifungal drugs. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1999; 48: 847-52. [PMC free article: PMC2014312] [PubMed: 10594489](Population based study identified 5 cases of acute liver injury during antifungal therapy in 69,830 patients; relative risk for ketoconazole was 228 (1: 500 patients], itraconazole 17.7 [~1:10,000] and terbinafine 4.2 [~1:50,000]).
Chambers WM, Millar A, Jain S, Burroughs AK. Terbinafine-induced hepatic dysfunction. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2001; 13: 1115-8. [PubMed: 11564966](41 year old man developed jaundice 4 weeks after starting terbinafine which worsened over next 3 to 6 weeks [bilirubin 7.0 rising to 33.2 mg/dL, AST 124 U/L, Alk P 568 U/L], followed by prolonged jaundice [5 months], pruritus [10 months] and persistent Alk P elevations).
Conjeevaram G, Vongthavaravat V, Sumner R, Koff RS. Terbinafine-induced hepatitis and pancytopenia. Dig Dis Sci 2001; 46: 1714-6. [PubMed: 11508672](63 year old man developed malaise, fever and pancytopenia 4 weeks after starting terbinafine, which worsened over the next 3 weeks [bilirubin 1.7 rising to 2.0 mg/dL, ALT 86 to 1073 U/L, Alk P 94 to 597 U/L], resolving within 6 weeks of stopping).
Iverson SL, Uetrecht JP. Identification of a reactive metabolite of terbinafine: insights into terbinafine-induced hepatotoxicity. Chem Res Toxicol 2001; 14: 175-81. [PubMed: 11258966](Identified an N-dealkylation product of terbinafine which could bind to hepatobiliary proteins and induce an immune reaction).
Johnstone D, Berger C, Fleckman P. Acute fulminant hepatitis after treatment with rabeprazole and terbinafine. Arch Intern Med 2001; 161: 1677-8. [PubMed: 11434801](46 year old man developed jaundice 4 weeks after starting terbinafine, citalopram, and rabeprazole [bilirubin 1.2 rising to 5.2 mg/dL, ALT >3000 U/L, INR 1.8, mild encephalopathy and renal failure], but eventual recovery after stopping all 3 agents).
Andrade RJ, Lucena MI. Acute fulminant hepatitis after treatment with rabeprazole and terbinafine: is rabeprazole the culprit? Arch Intern Med 2002; 162: 360-1. [PubMed: 11822934](Letter in response to Johnstone [2001] suggesting that terbinafine was the culprit rather than rabeprazole).
Severe liver damage on terbinafine. Prescrire Int 2002; 11: 16. [PubMed: 11985370](Mentions that FDA has reported 16 cases of severe liver damage due to terbinafine, including 11 deaths and 2 liver transplants).
Anania FA, Rabin L. Terbinafine hepatotoxicity resulting in chronic biliary ductopenia and portal fibrosis. Am J Med 2002; 112: 741-2. [PubMed: 12079721](56 year old woman with jaundice after a short course of terbinafine who developed persistent pruritus and Alk P elevations [550 U/L], liver biopsy 20 months later showing paucity of bile ducts).
Walter RB, Lukaschek J, Renner EL, Müllhaupt B, Bachli EB. Fatal hepatic veno-occlusive disease associated with terbinafine in a liver transplant recipient. J Hepatol 2003; 38: 373-4. [PubMed: 12586307](35 year old man with familial amyloid polyneuropathy and liver transplant developed jaundice 6 weeks after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 8.9 mg/dL, ALT 491 U/L, Alk P 1128 U/L], with severe pruritus, ascites, progressive central vein sclerosis, and death from gastrointestinal bleeding).
Zapata Garrido AJ, Romo AC, Padilla FB. Terbinafine hepatotoxicity. A case report and review of the literature. Ann Hepatol 2003; 2: 47-51. [PubMed: 15094707](53 year old woman developed jaundice and abdominal pain 7 days after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 5.8 rising to 23 mg/dL, ALT 1272 U/L, Alk P 154 U/L], worsening for 4 weeks and then resolving over the next 4 months after stopping).
Ajit C, Suvannasankha A, Zaeri N, Munoz SJ. Terbinafine-associated hepatotoxicity. Am J Med Sci 2003; 325: 292-5. [PubMed: 12792250](65 year old man developed fatigue and jaundice 4 weeks after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 21.0 mg/dL, ALT 179 U/L, Alk P 1040 U/L], slow recovery, biopsy showing bile duct injury; corticosteroids started and improved, but enzymes were not normal 4 months later).
Burstein Z, Vildosola H, Lozano Z, Verona R, Vargas G. Colestasic toxic hepatitis caused by terbinafine: case report. Rev Gastroenterol Peru 2004; 24: 357-62. Spanish. PMID: 15614306 [PubMed: 15614306](31 year old woman developed jaundice 40 days after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 3.2 mg/dL, ALT 244 U/L, Alk P 334 U/L], resolving within 3 months of stopping).
Wingfield AB, Fernandez-Obregon AC, Wignall FS, Greer DL. Treatment of tinea imbricate: a randomized clinical trial using griseofulvin, terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole. Br J Dermatol 2004; 150: 119-26. [PubMed: 14746625](Randomized trial of four antifungals for 4 weeks for tinea imbricate in 86 patients in New Guinea; griseofulvin and terbinafine were effective; itraconazole and fluconazole were not; only one patient had ALT elevation [3-fold: terbinafine]).
Russo MW, Galanko JA, Shrestha R, Fried MW, Watkins P. Liver transplantation for acute liver failure from drug-induced liver injury in the United States. Liver Transpl 2004; 10: 1018-23. [PubMed: 15390328](Among ~50,000 liver transplants done in the US between 1990 and 2002, 137 [0.2%] were done for idiosyncratic drug induced acute liver failure, of which 6 were attributed to ketoconazole and 1 to itraconazole, but none to terbinafine).
Nakano N, Hiruma M, Shiraki Y, Chen X, Porgpermdee S, Ikeda S. Combination of pulse therapy with terbinafine tablets and topical terbinafine cream for the treatment of dermatophyte onychomycosis: a pilot study. J Dermatol 2006; 33: 753-8. [PubMed: 17073989](Trial of pulse therapy with terbinafine in 66 patients [one week every month] found high rate of response and “no abnormal findings in the laboratory tests performed before, during or after pulse therapy”).
Song J, Deresinski S. Hepatotoxicity of antifungal agents. Curr Opin Investig Drugs 2005; 6: 170-7. [PubMed: 15751740](Extensive review of hepatotoxicity from antifungals; terbinafine reported to cause ALT elevations in 4% of patients; several cases of clinically apparent hepatitis and acute liver failure have been described, typically arising within 4-6 weeks and requiring 3-6 months to resolve; 16 cases of hepatotoxicity reported to FDA, including 11 deaths and 2 liver transplants).
Paredes AH, Lewis JH. Terbinafine-induced acute autoimmune hepatitis in the setting of hepatitis B virus infection. Ann Pharmacother 2007; 41: 880-4. [PubMed: 17426078](57 year old male HBsAg carrier who developed severe acute hepatitis after 12 weeks of terbinafine therapy [bilirubin 11.0 mg/dL, ALT 1044 U/L, Alk P 167 U/L] and rise in HBV DNA; suggestive of HBV reactivation rather than terbinafine hepatotoxicity per se).
Kim B, Jang H, Jwa S, Jang B, Kim M, Oh C, Kwon Y, et al. Generalized pustular psoriasis and hepatic dysfunction associated with oral terbinafine therapy. J Korean Med Sci 2007; 22: 167-9. [PMC free article: PMC2693560] [PubMed: 17297275](61 year old man with psoriasis developed generalized pustular psoriasis 4 days after starting terbinafine with fever, rash, and neutrophilia but no jaundice [bilirubin normal, ALT 376 U/L, Alk P 564 U/L], symptoms and enzyme elevations responding to corticosteroids within 2 weeks).
Chang CH, Young-Xu Y, Kurth T, Orav JE, Chan AK. The safety of oral antifungal treatments for superficial dermatophytosis and onychomycosis: a meta-analysis. Am J Med 2007; 120: 791-8. [PubMed: 17765049](The pooled probability of stopping terbinafine because of elevated ALT/AST was 0.31% [95% CI, 0%-0.74%] for 2-6 weeks and 0.44% [95% CI, 0.13%-0.76%] for 8-48 weeks).
Perveze Z, Johnson MW, Rubin RA, Sellers M, Zayas C, Jones JL, Cross R, et al. Terbinafine-induced hepatic failure requiring liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2007; 13: 162-4. [PubMed: 17192859](50 year old man developed jaundice 3 months after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 29 rising to 67.7 mg/dL, ALT 149 U/L, Alk P 497 U/L], with progressive hepatic failure leading to liver transplantation, explant showed severe cholestasis and paucity of bile ducts).
Gendre G, Buclin T, Morard I, Fontannaz J, Berney JL. [Terbinafine induced hepatitis with persistent cholestasis]. Rev Med Suisse 2008; 4: 736-9. French. PMID: 18472735 [PubMed: 18472735](55 year old developed jaundice 6 weeks after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 11.9 mg/dL, ALT 57 U/L, Alk P 590 U/L], jaundice persisting for 3 months and Alk P elevations continuing for more than 6 months, biopsy showing vanishing bile duct syndrome).
Elewski BE, Cáceres HW, DeLeon L, El Shimy S, Hunter JA, Korotkiy N, Rachesky IJ, et al. Terbinafine hydrochloride oral granules versus oral griseofulvin suspension in children with tinea capitis: results of two randomized, investigator-blinded, multicenter, international, controlled trials. J Am Acad Dermatol 2008; 59: 41-54. [PubMed: 18378354](Pooled analysis of two controlled trials of 6 weeks of terbinafine vs griseofulvin in 1549 children with tinea capitis; no difference in biochemical laboratory results between two groups; low rate of discontinuation because of abnormal liver tests [<1%]).
Chalasani N, Fontana RJ, Bonkovsky HL, Watkins PB, Davern T, Serrano J, Yang H, Rochon J; Drug Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN). Causes, clinical features, and outcomes from a prospective study of drug-induced liver injury in the United States. Gastroenterology 2008; 135: 1924-34. [PMC free article: PMC3654244] [PubMed: 18955056](Among 300 cases of drug induced liver disease in the US collected between 2004 and 2008, 8 were attributed to antifungal agents, including 4 to terbinafine, 2 to fluconazole, 1 each to ketaconazole and itraconazole).
Antifungal drugs. Treat Guidel Med Lett 2009; 7: 95-102. [PubMed: 19940816](Concise summary of therapy of fungal infections with recommendations on agents, dosage and duration of treatment and safety; because of risk of liver injury from terbinafine, recommends that liver tests be assessed before and periodically during therapy).
Gupta AK, Lynch LE, Kogan N, Cooper EA. The use of an intermittent terbinafine regimen for the treatment of dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2009; 23: 256-62. [PubMed: 19438818](Trial comparing continuous vs intermittent terbinafine for onychomycosis in 142 adults reported no serious adverse events; no mention of liver toxicity).
Takahata Y, Hiruma M, Shiraki Y, Tokuhisa Y, Sugita T, Muto M. Treatment of dermatophyte onychomycosis with three pulses of terbinafine (500 mg day for a week). Mycoses 2009; 52: 72-6. [PubMed: 18444971](55 patients with onychomycosis were treated with 3 one-week courses [pulses] of terbinafine; no patient had “abnormal findings in any of the laboratory tests”).
Ferrajolo C, Capuano A, Verhamme KM, Schuemie M, Rossi F, Stricker BH, Sturkenboom MC. Drug-induced hepatic injury in children: a case/non-case study of suspected adverse drug reactions in VigiBase. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2010; 70: 721-8. [PMC free article: PMC2997312] [PubMed: 21039766](Worldwide pharmacovigilance database contained 9036 hepatic adverse drug reactions in children, voriconazole ranked 21st with 52 cases [odds ratio 10.7] and fluconazole 30th with 42 cases [odds ratio 8.6]; terbinafine was not listed in the top 41 causes).
Reuben A, Koch DG, Lee WM; Acute Liver Failure Study Group. Drug-induced acute liver failure: results of a U.S. multicenter, prospective study. Hepatology 2010; 52: 2065-76. [PMC free article: PMC3992250] [PubMed: 20949552](Among 1198 patients with acute liver failure enrolled in a US prospective study between 1998 and 2007, 133 were attributed to drug induced liver injury, of which 6 were due to antifungal agents, including 3 to terbinafine).
Tey HL, Tan AS, Chan YC. Meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials comparing griseofulvin and terbinafine in the treatment of tinea capitis. J Am Acad Dermatol 2011; 64: 663-70. [PubMed: 21334096](Systematic review of trials comparing oral griseofulvin and terbinafine, rates of hepatotoxicity not mentioned, but authors do not recommend routine monitoring of liver tests if terbinafine is given for 4 weeks only).
Deng S, Hu H, Abliz P, Wan Z, Wang A, Cheng W, Li R. A random comparative study of terbinafine versus griseofulvin in patients with tinea capitis in western China. Mycopathologia 2011; 172: 365-72. [PubMed: 21701791](88 children with tinea capitis were treated with 2-4 weeks of oral terbinafine or grisefulvin; reported that there were no side effects).
Antifungal drugs. Treat Guidel Med Lett 2012; 10 (120): 61-8. [PubMed: 22825657](Concise summary of recommendations and guidelines for use of antifungal drugs including the imidazoles and triazoles, echinocandins, terbinafine, flucytosine, and amphotericin; liver adverse events are mentioned for terbinafine, ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole and voriconazole).
Kao WY, Su CW, Huang YS, Chou YC, Chen YC, Chung WH, Hou MC, et al. Risk of oral antifungal agent-induced liver injury in Taiwanese. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2014; 77: 180-9. [PMC free article: PMC3895359] [PubMed: 23750489](Analysis of Taiwan National Health Insurance database from 2002-2008 identified 52 patients with drug induced liver injury among 90,847 users of oral antifungal agents, only 2 of which were attributed to terbinafine).
Björnsson ES, Bergmann OM, Björnsson HK, Kvaran RB, Olafsson S. Incidence, presentation and outcomes in patients with drug-induced liver injury in the general population of Iceland. Gastroenterology 2013; 144: 1419-25. [PubMed: 23419359](In a population based study of drug induced liver injury from Iceland, 96 cases were identified over a 2 year period, none of which were attributed to terbinafine or other antifungal agents).
Choudhary NS, Kotecha H, Saraf N, Gautam D, Saigal S. Terbinafine induced liver injury: a case report. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2014; 4: 264-5. [PMC free article: PMC4284205] [PubMed: 25755569](55 year old man developed jaundice and pruritus 1 month after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 13.6 mg/dL, ALT 216 U/L, Alk P 202 U/L], resolving within 3 months of stopping and with ursodiol therapy).
Kumar K, Gill A, Shafei R, Wright JL. A curious case of cholestasis: oral terbinafine associated with cholestatic jaundice and subsequent erythema nodosum. BMJ Case Rep 2014; 2014. PMID: 25480138 [PMC free article: PMC4265052] [PubMed: 25480138](A 30ish year old woman developed itching and jaundice shortly after completing a 3 week course of terbinafine [bilirubin 8.5 mg/dL, ALT 120 U/L, Alk P 463 U/L] followed by erythema nodosum which was treated with prednisone; 6 weeks later the skin rash had resolved and all liver tests were normal).
Raschi E, Poluzzi E, Koci A, Caraceni P, Ponti FD. Assessing liver injury associated with antimycotics: Concise literature review and clues from data mining of the FAERS database. World J Hepatol 2014; 6: 601-12. [PMC free article: PMC4163743] [PubMed: 25232453](Analysis of spontaneous reports of drug induced liver injury to the FDA between 2004 and 2011 identified 395 cases of liver injury attributed to terbinafine including 27 cases of acute liver failure, thus ranking first in total number of cases due to antifungal agents).
Yan J, Wang X, Chen S. Systematic review of severe acute liver injury caused by terbinafine. Int J Clin Pharm 2014; 36: 679-83. [PubMed: 24986266](Case report and systematic review of the literature on liver injury from terbinafine; 45 year old man developed dark urine 2 weeks after starting terbinafine and was admitted one month later [bilirubin 18.9 mg/dL, ALT 580 U/L, Alk P not provided] with eventual full recovery after treatment with ursodiol and several traditional Chinese medications).
Hernández N, Bessone F, Sánchez A, di Pace M, Brahm J, Zapata R, A Chirino R, et al. Profile of idiosyncratic drug induced liver injury in Latin America. An analysis of published reports. Ann Hepatol 2014; 13: 231-9. [PubMed: 24552865](Systematic review of literature of drug induced liver injury in Latin American countries published from 1996 to 2012 identified 176 cases, none of which were attributed to terbinafine).
Chalasani N, Bonkovsky HL, Fontana R, Lee W, Stolz A, Talwalkar J, Reddy KR, et al.; United States Drug Induced Liver Injury Network. Features and outcomes of 899 patients with drug-induced liver injury: The DILIN Prospective Study. Gastroenterology 2015; 148: 1340-52. [PMC free article: PMC4446235] [PubMed: 25754159](Among 899 cases of drug induced liver injury enrolled in a US mulitcenter prospective study between 2004 and 2013, 7 [0.9%] were attributed to terbinafine).
Kyriakidis I, Tragiannidis A, Munchen S, Groll AH. Clinical hepatotoxicity associated with antifungal agents. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2017; 16: 149-65. [PubMed: 27927037](Review of the hepatotoxicity of antifungal agents discusses terbinafine and its association with both hepatocellular and cholestatic jaundice and which can result in acute liver failure).
Kramer ON, Albrecht J. Clinical presentation of terbinafine-induced severe liver injury and the value of laboratory monitoring: a critically appraised topic. Br J Dermatol 2017; 177: 1279-84. [PubMed: 28762471](Among 38 publications describing clinical features of terbinafine induced liver injury, 173 cases were analyzed but only 31 with jaundice, mean age of 54 years [range 24-75], mean latency to onset was 33 days [range 5-84], 3 patients died and 3 underwent liver transplantation; the authors conclude that routine monitoring of liver tests is not justified and is unlikely to be beneficial).
Nicoletti P, Aithal GP, Bjornsson ES, Andrade RJ, Sawle A, Arrese M, Barnhart HX, et al.; International Drug-Induced Liver Injury Consortium, Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network Investigators, and International Serious Adverse Events Consortium. Association of liver injury from specific drugs, or groups of drugs, with polymorphisms in HLA and other genes in a genome-wide association study. Gastroenterology 2017; 152: 1078-89. [PMC free article: PMC5367948] [PubMed: 28043905](A genome-wide association study done on 862 persons of European ancestry with drug induced liver injury demonstrated a highly significant association with a polymorphism on chromosome 6 which was a proxy for HLA-A* 33:01 and most strongly linked to cases of terbinafine, although also with fenofibrate, methyldopa, and ticlopidine and possibly other drug causes of cholestatic injury).
Kaushal M, Tolani P, Kumar N, Sharma S. Terbinafine-induced liver injury. Natl Med J India. 2017;30:321-323.. [PubMed: 30117442](64 year old Indian man developed jaundice 20 days after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 18 mg/dL, ALT 408 U/L, Alk P 990 U/L] with jaundice lasting 2 months but ultimate resolution except for minor Alk P elevation at 3 months).
Fontana RJ, Cirulli ET, Gu J, Kleiner D, Ostrov D, Phillips E, Schutte R, et al. The role of HLA-A*33:01 in patients with cholestatic hepatitis attributed to terbinafine. J Hepatol. 2018;69:1317-1325.. [PMC free article: PMC6472700] [PubMed: 30138689](Among 1260 cases of drug-induced liver injury enrolled in a U.S. prospective study between 2004 and 2017, 15 [1.2%] cases were attributed to terbinafine, all of whom were above the age of 40 years, 80% were jaundiced, and median latency to onset was 38 days; the extended HLA haplotype A*33:01-B*14:02-C*08:02 was found in 11 patients including 10 of 11 European ancestry [91%] versus 1% of controls; and 2 East Asian patients had a related HLA type [A*33:03]).
Mejías Manzano MLÁ, Giráldez Gallego Á, Ontanilla Clavijo G, Sousa Martín JM. Terbinafine-induced hepatotoxicity. Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;42:394-395. English, Spanish. PMID: 31167724. [PubMed: 31167724](47 year old woman with ankylosing spondylitis developed jaundice 3 weeks after stopping a 28-day course of terbinafine [bilirubin 3.5 mg/dL, ALT 572 U/L, Alk P 896 U/L] with persistent mild abnormalities of ALT and Alk P levels still present for 9 months).
Carnio LR, Johnson Shaw ME, Schnur J, Casadesus D. Concurrent terbinafine-induced acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis and hepatitis. BMJ Case Rep. 2021;14:e238930.. [PMC free article: PMC7813382] [PubMed: 33462036](55 year old woman developed rash within a week of starting terbinafine that worsened despite use of oral corticosteroids [bilirubin not given, ALT 770 U/L, Alk P 169 U/L] with rapid improvement in both rash and serum enzyme elevations upon use of iv dexamethasone).
Ley D, Musto J, Said A. A case of progressive cholestatic drug-induced liver injury due to terbinafine. WMJ. 2023;122:138-142.. [PubMed: 37141482](62 year old woman with multiple comorbidities developed fatigue and jaundice 41 days after starting terbinafine [bilirubin 41.4 mg/dL, ALT 245 U/L, Alk P 1494 U/L] with renal failure requiring temporary dialysis but slow incomplete recovery at 6 months [bilirubin 0.9 mg/dL, ALT 105 U/L, Alk P 480 U/L] and persistence of Alk P elevations [520 U/L] 2 years later).
Jilani M, Zaidi S, Cazares Parson M, Brockman MJ, Hakim N, Edwards BP. Terbinafine-induced liver injury: a case report. Cureus. 2023;15:e50749.. [PMC free article: PMC10794162] [PubMed: 38239534](70 year old Hispanic female developed jaundice and fatigue 5 weeks after starting terbinafine and 1 month later remained jaundiced [bilirubin 24.5 mg/dL, ALT 64 U/L, Alk P 238 U/L] and she had improved but was still jaundiced when last seen 6 weeks later [bilirubin 4.5 mg/dL]).
Brown A, Potesta M, Hameed A. Drug-induced liver injury secondary to terbinafine use. Cureus. 2024;16:e54453.. [PMC free article: PMC10952058] [PubMed: 38510874](41 year old African American prisoner developed jaundice while taking terbinafine [bilirubin 32 mg/dL, ALT 832 U/L, Alk P 1843 U/L] with moderate improvement with prednisone therapy bit scant follow up).
Torgersen J, Mezochow AK, Newcomb CW, Carbonari DM, Hennessy S, Rentsch CT, Park LS, et al. Severe acute liver injury after hepatotoxic medication initiation in real-world data. JAMA Intern Med. 2024;184:943-952.. [PMC free article: PMC11197444] [PubMed: 38913369](Analysis of the US Veterans Administration electronic health records between 1999 and 2021 identified 1739 hospitalizations for acute liver injury suspected to be due to medications, at a rate of 1 per 25,000 patients exposed to terbinafine).
Chen VL, Rockey DC, Bjornsson ES, Barnhart H, Hoofnagle JH; Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network Investigators. Incidence of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver Injury caused by prescription drugs. Drug Saf. 2025;48:151-160.. [PMC free article: PMC11785493] [PubMed: 39317916](Analysis of 1284 cases of drug-induced liver injury enrolled in a U.S. prospective study, identified 20 cases of due to terbinafine which was estimated as an incidence of 1 per 2,600 persons treated).
Bessone F, Hernandez N, Medina-Caliz I, García-Cortés M, Schinoni MI, Mendizabal M, Chiodi D, et al. Drug-induced liver injury in Latin America: 10-year experience of the Latin American DILI (LATINDILI) Network. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025;23:89-102.. [PubMed: 38992407](Among 483 cases of drug-induced liver injury enrolled in a prospective Latin American database, 4 [1%] were attributed to terbinafine).
Hill RC, Lipner SR. Asymptomatic hepatotoxicity following exposure to oral terbinafine for onychomycosis treatment. Dermatol Online J. 2025;31.. [PubMed: 40526934](82 year old woman developed dark urine 27 days after starting terbinafine with bilirubin 0.7 rising to a peak of 1.5 mg/dL, ALT 225 to 304 to U/L, Alk P 191 to 363 U/L, which were normal 4 months later).
Wenk KS, Wu X, Miller MJ. Infrequent laboratory abnormalities during terbinafine therapy for onychomycosis: A retrospective cohort analysis within an integrated health system. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025;92:1080-1082.. [PubMed: 37717727](Analysis of medical records of 13,399 treatment courses of terbinafine, identified only 9 instances of possible liver injury with ALT elevations in 0.36% ranging from 119 to 643 U/L, Alk P elevations in 0.18% ranging from 193 to 480 U/L, only one can with symptoms and bilirubin elevation [1.6 mg/dL] and none scored as severe).

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Cite this PageHoofnagle JH. Terbinafine. [Updated 2026 Jan 30]. In: LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-.
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LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet].

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OVERVIEW

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CASE REPORT

Case 1. Prolonged cholestasis due to terbinafine.(1)

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Case 2. Terbinafine induced cholestatic hepatitis.(2)

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