Ringworm (tinea) can be frustrating to treat because the infection may resist the remedies used to kill it or it might spread to other parts of the body. There are a number of natural remedies and medications you can use to treat the infection, but the prescription drug Lamisil is one of the more popular ones. Lamisil is manufactured and marketed by the Novartis Corporation. It is sold in a number of countries like the United States, India, United Kingdom, Australia, and Venezuela and under several brand names including Corbinal, Terbisil, and Zabel.
About Lamisil
The active ingredient in the drug is terbinafine which is a synthetic antifungal substance that is effective against dermatophytes – the group of fungi that causes ringworm. The drug can be taken orally to eliminate ringworm in the scalp, but it is generally used as a topical cream to treat athlete’s foot or as a powder to eliminate jock itch. The product boasts a high clinical cure rate when the drug is taken orally at 250mg doses once daily for seven days. When used topically twice per day, it can take up to two weeks before the rash goes away and another week to completely eradicate the fungus that caused it.
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In 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new antifungal medication by Novartis called terbinafine hydrochloride to be used for children aged 4 and over. It comes in the form of granules that can be added to a child’s food to treat tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp). This medication attacks the ringworm where it grows on the hairshaft.
Side Effects of Lamisil
Lamisil Oral Granules
This form of the medication was approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2007. It is typically given to children in their food to treat ringworm of the scalp. The side effects associated with this form of Lamisil include:
- Gastrointestinal upset including diarrhea, indigestion, and nausea
- Mild stomach pain
- Cough
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Upper respiratory tract infection
Lamisil granules are typically mixed with a spoonful of food such as pudding, mashed potatoes or other soft foods. The cycle for taking this medication is generally 6 to 12 weeks for the successful treatment of ringworm. The doctor may shorten or lengthen the treatment cycle depending on your progress.
Lamisil Pills
The pill is usually prescribed to eradicate ringworm from the inside out. In some cases, the infection can spread under the nail bed or get into the hair shaft and roots beyond the reach of topical treatments. The active ingredient in the pill moves through the bloodstream to reach these areas and kill the infection. Side effects associated with the Lamisil pill include:
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Mild stomach pain
- Nausea
Lamisil Cream, Gel and Spray
Lamisil in this form is sold over the counter and does not contain the same amount of active ingredient as the prescription drug. Possibly because of this, Lamisil cream, gel, and spray are well tolerated by most people that use it. However, you still need to be careful when using this medication. In addition to possibly causing a severe allergic reaction in sensitive people, the active ingredient can interact negatively with other medications you are using like MAO inhibitors, beta blockers, and Prozac. To avoid serious health consequence, it is important to talk to your doctor about all of the medications and supplements you are taking. 
Rare Side Effects
In rare cases, Lamisil has caused visual disturbances, mild rashes and other skin lesions, dizziness, insomnia, hypoglycemia, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and symptoms of depression. Some users of Lamisil have experienced severe liver damage. It is not stated whether the underlying health condition or the drug itself were the cause of the liver damage but it is a warning that the drug manufacturers want consumers to be aware of.
The symptoms of liver damage in conjunction with the use of Lamisil include:
- Upper abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Itching
- Clay-colored Stools
- Jaundice
- Dark Urine (also associated with kidney ailments)
- Loss of appetite
Should you experience any of these symptoms, stop usage of Lamisil immediately and contact your primary care physician to schedule an office visit as soon as possible.
Miss a Scheduled Dose
You should not worry if you miss a dose of Lamisil. Try to take the dose as soon as you remember, but skip the dose if it is close to the next scheduled dose. Taking extra to make up for the mixed dose can lead to an overdose, which does require emergency medical care.
Things to Avoid While Taking Lamisil
When taking Lamisil it is important to do your best to avoid a few everyday items.
Those items include:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda Pop
- Energy Drinks
- Any beverage containing caffeine (this includes chocolate)
- Foods including chocolate
- Foods including coffee in sauces or rubs
- Tanning beds
- Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight
Lamisil can make the pigment in your skin more sensitive to sunlight and UV rays. This can lead to severe sunburns and skin infections.
For those that are pregnant or expect to become pregnant: Lamisil is a class B medication. This means that it is safe to take during pregnancy and will not cause harm to the unborn child.
Better Treatment Options
When you have ringworm, you want to get rid of it quickly. If you don’t want to take a chance on developing the side effects associated with Lamisil, there are a number of other natural treatment options available for curing ringworm. To find a safe ringworm medication that will eliminate your infection with no side effects, read our reviews of several popular and effective treatments for ringworm available on the homepage.