Lamisil and Headaches: What Users Say

• dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2021

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I took this drug for my awful toenail fungus I have in 3 toes. This pill was the only one that is supposed to work on the toenail fungus, but can cause a lot of side effects, but I wanted to get rid of it! My doctor does not like to recommend this drug but it was my last resort. Please think real hard about taking this drug, it can be a matter of life and death. Before you take it, you have to get liver tests and my test was excellent, until I took Lamisil for 3 weeks. I started feeling real bad, headaches, and heartburn which I have never had, and felt real tired and sick. I told my doctor I was stopping it. Then I went in to do liver test, and my tests came back with very high liver enzymes. And I have been back twice, and it is slowly going away. It can cause liver failure and death. I am so glad that I stopped it when I did, and I hope my next tests, which I'm doing in a few days, come back normal. I wish I would have never taken this medication."

• dgh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2018

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I have suffered from toenail fungus since I was around 6 years old. (I am 23 now.) I finally went to the dermatologist last summer for other skin issues, and I also addressed my fungal infection and dry and cracked feet. I had no idea that my dry, cracked feet were due to the fungus! I’ve dealt with bloody cracks for most of my life. I decided to go on Lamisil in August of 2017. I took one pill per day for 3 months. About a month in, my cracks and dry skin were healed. My feet were finally so smooth after all these years! Fast forward to a year later, my toenail fungus is completely gone, and my new healthy nails are all grown in! The only side effect I experienced while on the medication were headaches. They were bearable and didn’t occur every day. I am so glad I took this medicine! Definitely would recommend."

• Bes...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 9, 2016

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Best advice: 1. Get prescription pills & continue until side effects are unbearable, that product will clear it up best & fastest. Then switch to prescription polish. 2. Go buy an electric nail file with attachments, keep the thinnest & shortest as possible. 3. Change socks morning and night. 4. Don't share nail tools! 5. Sally's has a professional liquid cleaner, the blue stuff lasts a year! 6. Clean infected toes in the evening before changing socks. 7. I switched from pills to medicated polish because of headaches, and after 7 months, my toenail is clear & growing at a similar rate to others. I've read and tried all the tricks. If you follow these instructions DAILY, it WILL clear up, but you're looking at a year. Add Epsom Salt 2-minute soak, 2-3 times a week, plug the bath sink, put foot in."

• Bar...
• October 12, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "So I've been on Lamisil for about a week. The one toenail was turning blackish. It's starting to look better already. The side effects I'm having are a dull headache and terrible flatulence. Also, I feel out of sorts."

• too...
• February 12, 2014

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I have been on this medicine exactly a month. My right foot, which was affected, is having smooth skin, no itching. The nail is getting harder and better. I love the fact that when my foot touches the sheets, it is not snagging and is not itching. However, I have nausea, an upset stomach, some headaches, I feel tired, and my skin on my face is very sensitive, the slightest scratch swells it up and makes it red. I have a rash on my upper hard palate that just came on yesterday. I want to finish the course, I will have to see. I wish there was a single shot that would take care of this. Why is there such a tedious fungus that has to be eradicated in this fashion?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2016

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Took this drug a few years ago, and it worked great. I had fungus in 3 of my toenails initially (and had it for a few years before trying this). They all cleared up after use of Lamisil for 12 weeks. I had no side effects. But, within about a year, fungus developed again on my big toe (unless it never cured?). I'm taking Lamisil again, but I'm only 4 weeks in, and I've gotten terrible headaches and pretty bad itching. I'm not sure if I will be able to go through a second round of the stuff at my 6-week check-in. I still think I'd recommend it because it did get rid of fungus on two toenails, but I'm not sure if the side effects would be too off-putting for some."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2016

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Took the medication for 35 days, was onto my second script when I got loss of taste, my mouth tasted like sour milk 24/7. When eating sweet food, I couldn't taste the sweet, and anything sweet made the sour milk taste in my mouth worse. Also, eating dairy gave the same effect. Eating salted food was tasteless. Great diet pill, as everything tastes so foul, including water. Went to the doctor, says stop taking it, and the foul taste could last for several weeks. Return if still no good in six weeks. My toenail was starting to look better, but needed to complete the course. Will have to revert to natural method, tea tree oil. Also got headaches with this medication, although that could be due to lack of water as drinking water tastes sour."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2011

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I have been using this medication for roughly 3 weeks now. I haven't lost taste yet, but I won't be surprised if I do. I am experiencing terrible headaches (all day long), loss of appetite, and I am not sleeping (which I have never had a problem with before). Just wondering if anyone else has had these same effects while taking this medication. I am a 33-year-old female, and I got an infected toenail while I was pregnant...10 years ago. I tried every over-the-counter medicine invented...only to waste my money. So, I am going to stick it out. I will write back to let you know how it turned out. Thanks!"

• Soo...
• January 15, 2018

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I have had toenail fungus for about 8 years and managed to get it out of one nail only to have it spread to another. I found it incredibly distressing when it spread to be on three of my nails, so I started the pills. The first week I felt fine, with maybe a little loose stool. By the second week, I’ve had terrible headaches, diarrhea, cramps, fatigue, and depression. I don’t think I can continue with this medication."

• Nic...
• December 19, 2017

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I previously took fluconazole for toenail fungus, but it did not work, and it actually spread to my other big toe. Frustrated, I asked my doctor to prescribe me terbinafine. I took it for 3 months, and it appears that my nails are getting better. The side effects are horrible. I had an almost daily headache, felt dizzy at times, nauseous once in a while, and the worst symptom was the accompanying depression that came with the drug. I'm glad the course is over. Don't want to do that again. Here's to hoping the fungus is gone."

• Anonymous
• January 4, 2010

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "About five days after I took this medication, my face slightly swelled. The other side effects to me include mild headache, low abdomen cramp, frequent urinating. The blood draw test does not show abnormal results in kidney and liver functions."

• MGH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2022

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Two days after starting the first dose, I developed the worst headache of my life, followed by diarrhea, then bloating, very gassy, and nausea. I immediately quit the medication, but bloating on an empty stomach, shortness of breath, and itching has lasted. It is now a week after I quit the medication. I can’t give a -100, but I wish I could. This drug is not worth the risk."