Pharmacology: Terbinafine is an allylamine derivative reported to have a broad-spectrum antifungal activity. It is considered to act through inhibition of fungal sterol synthesis. It works by preventing the formation of substances needed by the fungus to grow and develop, which causes weakness and death of the fungus. Terbinafine is fungicidal against dermatophytes, molds and certain dimorphic fungi and some yeast. It kills dermatophytes such as Trichophyton (e.g. T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, T. violaceum), Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum and Pityriasis versicolor due to Pityrosporum orbiculare. It is also used to treat cutaneous candidiasis. Fungicidal concentrations in nails are maintained for several weeks after therapy is discontinued. Skin concentrations may be up to 75-fold higher than those in the blood. It may persist in the skin for up to 8 weeks after the antifungal has been discontinued.
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