If you develop a fungal infection on your scalp, the skin of your feet or hands, or under your fingernails or toenails, your doctor may prescribe the oral medication Lamisil to cure your infection. Lamisil may sometimes adversely affect the liver, causing damage to liver cells indicated by elevated blood levels of liver enzymes. Consult your doctor regularly if you are taking Lamisil to ensure that it is safe for you.
Lamisil
The FDA has approved Lamisil for treatment of fungal infections. The active ingredient in Lamisil is terbinafine, a compound that inhibits the growth of fungal organisms. After you ingest terbinafine, it is absorbed by your intestines, reaching your circulation and gaining access to the site of infection. Eventually, the drug passes through your liver where it is metabolized and degraded prior to being removed by your kidneys.
The Liver
The liver performs many essential functions to maintain good health. One of its major roles is deactivating and removing drugs such as Lamisil from your circulation. Sometimes, this puts enough extra stress on the liver to cause inflammation, potentially damaging some liver cells. This might occur shortly after you begin taking Lamisil or it may take several weeks to develop. To guard against this, your doctor may recommend a blood test to check your liver function before you start treatment and possibly once or twice during the treatment.
Elevated Liver Enzymes
Liver cells contain enzymes that help them carry out their functions. Normally, these enzymes are retained inside the cells. However, when the liver is injured or inflamed, some enzymes may leak out of the cells and into the blood. Two liver enzymes, alanine transaminase, or ALT, and aspartate transaminase, or AST, are commonly measured in blood tests to determine whether your liver is functioning well. In rare cases, taking Lamisil may cause an increase in liver enzymes in a blood sample, indicating that your liver is having difficulty metabolizing the drug. In most cases, the liver recovers fully after Lamisil is discontinued.
Recommendations
If you have liver disease or lupus erythematosus, or if you drink large quantities of alcohol, the FDA recommends that you not take Lamisil. Otherwise, most people suffer no ill effects from the drug, although liver function tests are recommended as a routine precaution. Lamisil may also cause mild side effects that include diarrhea, upset stomach and a change in the sense of taste. If you take Lamisil, visit your doctor regularly so he can monitor its effects.
