Lamisil
Pros
Cons
This review is for a product called Lamisil, which is a prescription medication used for the treatment of onychomycosis, infections caused by fungus that affects the fingernails or toenails. Our review will examine this medication in depth to determine if it is safe and effective.
What’s In Lamisil
Each tablet contains the following ingredients:
- Active Ingredients: terbinafine hydrochloride (equivalent to 250 mg base)
- Inactive Ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide NF, hydroxypropyl
How Do You Use Lamisil?
The dosage of this medication varies depending on the location of the onychomycosis. When it appears on the fingernails, the dose is one 250mg tablet, once daily for 6 weeks, and when it occurs on the toenail the dose is a 250mg tablet, once daily for 12 weeks.
The manufacturer issues a warning that prior to taking this medication, a patient must be evaluated by a doctor for evidence of chronic or active liver disease. Indeed, some people taking Lamisil have developed severe liver damage that led to liver transplant or death. It must be noted that it is not clear whether the terbinafine caused the liver damage in these individuals, as most of them already did have a serious medical condition before taking this medication. Nonetheless, anyone taking this drug who experiences symptoms such as nausea, upper stomach pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, tiredness, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice must contact their doctor at once.
There are other conditions for which an individual must first consult their doctor before taking this drug, and they are as follows: a history of depression, a weak immune system, or an autoimmune disorder. In addition, pregnant or nursing women should not take Lamisil.
Other notes are that individuals should avoid caffeine while taking this medication, and should also avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. One also must look out for any signs of an allergic reaction to the drug, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. It must be noted that this is not a complete list of the possible side effects of taking this medication.
The Cost
Our research indicates that brand name Lamisil costs about $14.00 per pill, and so it is rather expensive. However, generic Lamisil tablets are also available and a month’s supply of these cost around $30.00. There are also a lot of sites online that sell generic Lamisil, which means that bargains can be found by comparison shopping.
Is There A Guarantee?
It does not appear as though there is any sort of money-back guarantee for this product.
The Conclusion of Our Lamisil Review
Lamisil is a medication that, upon consultation with one’s physician, may be quite effective in treating infections caused by fungus of the fingernail or toenail (onychomycosis). A number of clinical studies have verified that this medication is effective in treating the fungal infection in most patients. However, we must ask, are the benefits worth the risk? The cases of liver failure leading to liver transplant or death that occurred in some patients, admittedly a very small minority, using this drug is a big concern, and anyone with pre-existing health complications should certainly think twice before starting this medication. The long list of possible side effects and the possible danger to a baby in pregnant and nursing women would make this drug unattractive to many people, and the high cost could be a further turn-off. Thus, when asking yourself if you want to accept the risks of this medication, you should consider that there are other anti-fungal treatments available on the marketplace without this long list of potential side effects.