Terbinafine - Hair loss?

I have been taking Terbinafine for 4 weeks now and have experienced hair loss, loads more than normal. I read on some sites that hair loss normally sets in after 2-4 months after taking this but I must be one of the unlucky ones. I also read that hair loss affects roughly 1 in 1000 people but this cant be true. I am sure that there are more reports and cases that have not been documented. There is no way I can continue with the medicine as the hair loss is going to stress me out and stamp on my confidence levels. It looks like I will need to start on the finasteride/minoxidil solution to strengthen my roots and grow back the lost hair. I would rather live with a fungal toenail that is hidden under sock and shoe most of the time than lose my hair.

I have taken Terbinafine for a year now and have experienced major hair loss. I’m so glad to come across this info and finally have an explanation as to why this could be happening or what could be causing it. I hope it’s not permanent.

I'm a healthy 66 year old male. I had never experienced abnormal hair loss until after taking Terbinafine for approximately 90 days for toenail fungus. I would like to know if my hair will grow back at some point.

Thought it must just be me. Have been on this for nearly 7 weeks, and experienced massive hair loss.

I just stopped taking this after a month and within the last week I’ve noticed my hair is thinning and you can see my scalp a lot more. Does anyone have experience with this reversing or going back to normal? Currently freaking out.

Yes, it caused 2 patches of hair at my temples going back to my ear on the right side. Happened just after a month- in a 2 day period the hair fell out in the shower, clogging the drain, then I noticed. If I was a young man, I’d be furious. Fortunately it’s not noticeable. I know it’s that, because that was the only new pill.
They call it an unspecified side effect, cause if they listed it different, no one would take it ! I’d like to know who has had this happen.

Sounds like clogged hair pores for some. There are specialized hair clinics who deep clean the hair body with special oils (the frozen sebum). This would allow the lost hair mostly to grow back. The longer the state remains, slimmer the chances for a full hair recovery. Hair roots can become permanently dormant due to this. Speaking from experience, albeit due to a different medication, but with the same result.

I took Terbinafine for 12 weeks last fall for toenail fungus. My hair starting falling out around the first of this year. Found a study that stated this med "concentrates highest in the sebum and hair, with quantifiable concentrations 56-90 days after a final oral dose and a slow distribution from the peripheral sites back to the central plasma compartment... " Not sure what that means but my hair started falling out like crazy during that time. My hair loss continues 4 months later but has slowed. I have bald spots/receding near my temples and my hair is finer as if the follicles are blocked and smaller. My toenail is healed, but I agree, this is traumatizing!

Yes, I definitely have experienced hair loss from taking Terbinafine for the past 5 weeks ... my hairbrush is suddenly pulling out an unusual amount of hair. I'll be glad to finish my prescription (for fingernail fungus) in one more week!

I was taking it for weeks. I'm losing alarming amounts of hair right now. I don't know if its from the terbinafine or not but it's the only thing that makes sense. I stopped taking it when I started seeing blood when I went to the bathroom. I've been off it for two weeks. The stuff made me feel aweful.

Yes! Please don't take this medication unless you have no other choice. My hair loss is so disturbing. It has drastically effected my quality of life. I would give anything to go back in time and not take this med. I took it for 9 weeks and I've been off it for nearly 5 weeks. I am still losing 4x my normal amount of hair daily. I had other side effects too. Please consider an alternate treatment and if you do take this medication I pray you do not have this happen to you. It is one of the worst things imaginable.

I did not lose hair. Because of the concern for liver damage, I had blood tests regularly while taking terbafine. Good Luck, Patsy