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Original poster

Experiences with terbinafine for fungal nail infection

43 replies

Cityzen74 · 10/06/2022 09:09

I have had a fungal nail infection on my toenails for about 8 years. I tried all the over the counter treatments to no avail and it has eventually spread to 8 of my nails. As a result I hate my feet and can never wear sandals or be barefoot as I am so self conscious.

The dr suggested terbinafine many years ago but at the time I was ttc which took a while, then I was pregnant and then breastfeeding so I couldn't take the tablets. I have finished breastfeeding now and so I have been prescribed the tablets.

Am a bit nervous about taking them for so long (3-6 months). Does anyone have experience of this? Did it get rid of the infection? Did you feel ok? I have recently had a blood test to check liver which is ok and I have to get it checked again in 2.5 months so also feeling nervous about that.

Any advice would be gratefully received 😀

OP posts:
Nomaj · 10/06/2022 09:25

I am in the same position. Also several years in.

I took terbafine for 5 months. It made zero difference. I saw a podiatrist who said it doesn’t work for everyone and I just need to learn to live with it now.

From reading online it seems once it’s settled down into the nail bed it’s pretty much just the apocalypse that will get rid now.

Im just going to keep filing them down and bail polish on top.

Original poster
Cityzen74 · 10/06/2022 09:52

Nomaj · 10/06/2022 09:25

I am in the same position. Also several years in.

I took terbafine for 5 months. It made zero difference. I saw a podiatrist who said it doesn’t work for everyone and I just need to learn to live with it now.

From reading online it seems once it’s settled down into the nail bed it’s pretty much just the apocalypse that will get rid now.

Im just going to keep filing them down and bail polish on top.

Oh no - sorry to hear that it made no difference 🙁. That must be really frustrating. Thanks for telling me so that I can be prepared for this if it happens to me. I kind of thought it was guaranteed to work so interesting to know this isn't the case.

Yes my plan if this doesn't work is just to keep putting nail varnish on them. At first I thought this would be bad for my nails but apparently not so at least I can wear sandals if the tablets don't work.

OP posts:
GrandRapids · 10/06/2022 09:54

I was prescribed this but didn't take it after being advised it was hard on the liver. I already have a few other issues so didn't want to potentially add to it.

I just clip back, file and put nail polish on

Baobunny · 10/06/2022 10:00

Hi
ive joined just to comment.
I had a big toe fungal nail problem for years, tried lots of remedies with no luck.
persuaded the doctor to prescribe Terbinafine, after a blood test.
It absolutely worked after 3 months. I’m really happy I took the plunge, my feet are allowed out in public again.
Good luck

Original poster
Cityzen74 · 10/06/2022 11:15

GrandRapids · 10/06/2022 09:54

I was prescribed this but didn't take it after being advised it was hard on the liver. I already have a few other issues so didn't want to potentially add to it.

I just clip back, file and put nail polish on

Thank you for your reply - I appreciate it. Yes I heard it was hard on the liver too - I think I will try it and obviously if my blood test shows it is affecting my liver then I will stop and make sure I just file them regularly and wear nail varnish.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cityzen74 · 10/06/2022 11:16

Baobunny · 10/06/2022 10:00

Hi
ive joined just to comment.
I had a big toe fungal nail problem for years, tried lots of remedies with no luck.
persuaded the doctor to prescribe Terbinafine, after a blood test.
It absolutely worked after 3 months. I’m really happy I took the plunge, my feet are allowed out in public again.
Good luck

Oh that's brilliant - am so pleased it worked for you 😀. Thank you for your reply. Am going to give it a go and see - I really hope I can wear sandals again without always having to put nail varnish on.

OP posts:
Grumpysister · 10/06/2022 11:19

i was on it for about a year - it did work for me (and I had no problems with liver or anything else)

Yodaisawally · 10/06/2022 11:20

It didn't work for me either. It did lessen the patch on my big toe but it came back. I just wear nail varnish over the top which in itself is a vicious circle as I don't wear any in the winter and it always looks better.

Mum5net · 10/06/2022 11:22

Taken it before and it worked. Fast forward five years and problem came back.
Had a blood test to confirm all is OK and I am now taking it again (three weeks).
Has made an immediate difference to colour.

DoneAdulting · 10/06/2022 11:23

I was given a three month course last year, after a couple of weeks I completely lost my sense of taste. Apparently it’s a rare side effect!
I took them for six weeks then couldn’t take the lack of taste anymore so I stopped. The six week course worked! I had a fungal infection on my thumb and three toes and they have all grown out beautifully.

AnnaMagnani · 10/06/2022 14:21

Worked, it was great, wished I'd done it sooner instead of wasting time on rubbish like tea tree oil.

When the worst nail grew back of course it was ingrown and needed surgery but now I have lovely nails.

Original poster
Cityzen74 · 10/06/2022 16:22

Grumpysister · 10/06/2022 11:19

i was on it for about a year - it did work for me (and I had no problems with liver or anything else)

Thanks for your reply - am really glad it worked for you 😀

OP posts:
Original poster
Cityzen74 · 10/06/2022 16:24

Yodaisawally · 10/06/2022 11:20

It didn't work for me either. It did lessen the patch on my big toe but it came back. I just wear nail varnish over the top which in itself is a vicious circle as I don't wear any in the winter and it always looks better.

Sorry it didn't work for you 🙁. Do you think using nail varnish doesn't help it? Is really hard isn't it to know what to do for the best.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cityzen74 · 10/06/2022 16:25

Mum5net · 10/06/2022 11:22

Taken it before and it worked. Fast forward five years and problem came back.
Had a blood test to confirm all is OK and I am now taking it again (three weeks).
Has made an immediate difference to colour.

Fingers crossed that it works again - that's good that it has made a difference already to the colour 😀

OP posts:
Original poster
Cityzen74 · 10/06/2022 16:26

DoneAdulting · 10/06/2022 11:23

I was given a three month course last year, after a couple of weeks I completely lost my sense of taste. Apparently it’s a rare side effect!
I took them for six weeks then couldn’t take the lack of taste anymore so I stopped. The six week course worked! I had a fungal infection on my thumb and three toes and they have all grown out beautifully.

Oh wow that's good it worked after 6 weeks but that must have been horrible to lose your sense of taste. Did your taste come back again once you had stopped taking it?

OP posts:
Original poster
Cityzen74 · 10/06/2022 16:27

AnnaMagnani · 10/06/2022 14:21

Worked, it was great, wished I'd done it sooner instead of wasting time on rubbish like tea tree oil.

When the worst nail grew back of course it was ingrown and needed surgery but now I have lovely nails.

That's brilliant that it worked so well but sorry about your ingrown toenail. Great that you have lovely nails now 😀

OP posts:
WowIlikereallyhateyou · 10/06/2022 16:46

Terbinafine is generally not prescribed for fungal nails so much these days, as a liver function test is usually required and it can be a bit “sledgehammer to crack a nut in approach”. With regards to the treatment of your nails I usually advise patients to try alternative measures before terbinafine.
Best advice to you would be to see a Podiatrist or Foot health professional to see whether using a topical antifungal preparation would be suitable, many times it is. Thr biggest mistake patients make before visiting a professional is to apply anti fungal to a thickened fungal nail, which does very little. The nail can be prepared by a professional in order to give the nail a better chance to take in the anti fungal treatment. Results after this are far better.
Sadly gp’s only either recommend a topical solution to a thickened nail or terbinafine, neither of which are ideal.

Original poster
Cityzen74 · 10/06/2022 22:31

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 10/06/2022 16:46

Terbinafine is generally not prescribed for fungal nails so much these days, as a liver function test is usually required and it can be a bit “sledgehammer to crack a nut in approach”. With regards to the treatment of your nails I usually advise patients to try alternative measures before terbinafine.
Best advice to you would be to see a Podiatrist or Foot health professional to see whether using a topical antifungal preparation would be suitable, many times it is. Thr biggest mistake patients make before visiting a professional is to apply anti fungal to a thickened fungal nail, which does very little. The nail can be prepared by a professional in order to give the nail a better chance to take in the anti fungal treatment. Results after this are far better.
Sadly gp’s only either recommend a topical solution to a thickened nail or terbinafine, neither of which are ideal.

Thanks for this advice. I do appreciate it. I have seen podiatrists who basically just cut my nails but couldn’t really advise me on what else to do for the infection. I will see how I get on and evaluate it as I go 😊

OP posts:
272Newnames · 10/06/2022 22:58

Terbafine worked for DH.

whereamu · 10/06/2022 23:00

I've been taking them for three months. Still taking them and had a recent blood test to make sure all ok- should get results back next week.
I didn't want the tablets but all other treatments failed and it spread to the whole of my big toe and a smaller one.
It wasn't cosmetic for me - it caused no end of itchyness and kept me up at night.
The tablets are definitely working - the new nails are growing through clear.
I'm not sure how long I should tear them for though. I don't want to stop too soon then it spreads again and was a waist of time.
Are people taking them until the infection has completely grown out?

Pixiedust1234 · 10/06/2022 23:06

I took it last nov/dec. Ìn January i ended up with an auto immune disease that i am still trying to find out how to live with/take what medicines,waiting on seeing the rheumatologist atm. None of the medical specialists seemed surprised that terbinafine caused it. Wish I had never been prescribed it tbh.

On the plus side my big toenails seem to get growing clear instead of thick and yellow.

whereamu · 10/06/2022 23:21

@Pixiedust1234 that's awful.
What were your symptoms?
Did you have blood test results that weren't normal?

Reiningitin · 10/06/2022 23:23

I'm sure it's worth a go, I tried it but it brought me out in pityriasis rosea so had to stop. Still got the fungal nail infection many years lately sadly.

Pixiedust1234 · 10/06/2022 23:39

whereamu · 10/06/2022 23:21

@Pixiedust1234 that's awful.
What were your symptoms?
Did you have blood test results that weren't normal?

A red itching all over the body rash. Started on the back and slowly spread over the body. The skin became swollen and purple. Absolutely excruciating (I couldn't even bend my knees to get out of bed due to swelling). I was bedbound for nearly three months and I am still mostly housebound except for medical appointments. GP did an emergency referral to dermatology who diagnosed the autoimmune condition. Its been confirmed by biopsies and copious amounts of blood tests. One session they took 12 vials of bloods for all the tests so I feel as though they have been thorough.

They were trying to figure out the cause and and everything was "hmm..." , as soon as I mentioned terbinafine they said "yup that'll do it".

However I do have another autoimmune condition and they do say if you have one you will end up having another at some point so the terbinafine could have just brought it along sooner. No way to know for sure.

Imnotanumber · 11/06/2022 01:42

I had a terrible fungal infection on my big toenail for years. I decided against medication because of the risks. But I eventually worked out how to get rid of it.

I began to file down the surface of my nail until it was paper thin and apply the ointment then (curanail). The ointment only had to penetrate through a few nail cells to get to the infection. I reapplied it every week and did more filing if necessary and it got better quite quickly after this. I used to have a bath before the treatment to soften my nails.

I hope this might help someone.