Master Terbinafine with Picmonic for Medicine

Terbinafine is used against dermatophytes, or fungal infections which cause skin disease. This makes it particularly effective in treating tinea pedis (athlete's foot), tinea cruris (jock itch), and tinea corporis (ringworm).

This drug is also used for fungal nail infections, or onychomycosis, because other topical agents cannot penetrate nailbeds deeply. Terbinafine is given orally and acts systemically, so it can access infections underneath the nailbed.

This medication inhibits squalene epoxidase, which is an enzyme responsible for ergosterol synthesis (a main component of fungal cell membranes). Thus, this drug changes fungal cell membrane permeability, leading to fungal cell lysis and death.

This medication can lead to increased liver enzymes, and sometimes hepatitis. Rarely, it can progress to liver damage and failure, which requires transplant.

This drug has a wide side effect profile in the gastrointestinal system. It can lead to GI distress, with varying symptoms of diarrhea, constipation, dyspepsia, indigestion, gastritis, cholestasis and nausea.

Rarely, patients complain of a complete or partial loss of taste sensation, or ageusia. They can have distorted taste, and these symptoms may be permanent, long after treatment has ceased.

Headache is one of the most common complaints from this medication.