griseofulvin
Brand names: Grifulvin V
Griseofulvin is an antifungal medicine. It treats fungal infections of the skin, hair, and nails.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.33/unit
Generic Available
Yes (7 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats fungal infections called dermatophyte infections.
Common side effects
Headache, Nausea, Vomiting
Key warnings
Griseofulvin can cause liver problems.
How It Works
Griseofulvin stops fungi from growing and multiplying. It binds to a protein in the fungi. This disrupts the fungi's cell structure and prevents it from spreading.
How to Take It
Take this medicine exactly as your doctor tells you. The usual adult dose is 0.5 grams daily, taken as 125 mg four times a day, 250 mg twice a day, or 500 mg once a day. Children's doses are based on weight. Keep taking the medicine until the infection is completely gone, even if you feel better.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. It can cause harm to your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about birth control options if you are a woman who could become pregnant.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store this medicine at room temperature, between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 136 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 278 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
278
Death-Related Reports
15
Hospitalization Reports
94
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 38 |
| 2 | HEADACHE | 15 |
| 3 | OFF LABEL USE | 12 |
| 4 | PYREXIA | 11 |
| 5 | RASH | 11 |
| 6 | DIARRHOEA | 10 |
| 7 | DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 10 |
| 8 | PATHOGEN RESISTANCE | 10 |
| 9 | DRUG REACTION WITH EOSINOPHILIA AND SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS | 9 |
| 10 | DRUG RESISTANCE | 9 |
| 11 | PAIN | 9 |
| 12 | DELIRIUM | 8 |
| 13 | DIZZINESS | 8 |
| 14 | DRUG INTERACTION | 8 |
| 15 | LINEAR IGA DISEASE | 8 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Griseofulvin can cause liver problems. If you have liver failure or a history of sensitivity to griseofulvin, you should not take this medicine. Do not take this medicine if you have porphyria. Griseofulvin can harm an unborn baby, so do not take it if you are pregnant or could become pregnant.
Known Drug Interactions
Griseofulvin decreases the activity of warfarin-type anticoagulants, so that patients receiving these drugs concomitantly may require dosage adjustment of the anticoagulant during and after griseofulvin therapy.
Mechanism: Griseofulvin makes warfarin less effective by helping the body get rid of it faster.
What to do: Your doctor may need to change your warfarin dose during and after your treatment with this medicine.
Cyclosporine levels may be reduced when administered concomitantly with griseofulvin, resulting in a decrease in the pharmacologic effects of cyclosporine.
Mechanism: Griseofulvin lowers the amount of cyclosporine in your blood, which can make the medicine work less well.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your cyclosporine dose to make sure it stays at the right level.
Some drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives include phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, bosentan, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, rifampin, topiramate and products containing St.
Mechanism: Griseofulvin causes your body to get rid of birth control hormones more quickly than it should. This can make your birth control fail to prevent pregnancy.
What to do: Use a backup birth control method, like condoms, while taking this medicine. Discuss your contraceptive options with your healthcare provider.
Examples Aprepitant, barbiturates, bosentan, carbamazepine, efavirenz, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, rifabutin, rufinamide, topiramate, products containing St.
Mechanism: Griseofulvin speeds up how fast your body gets rid of estradiol, which can make the hormone therapy less effective.
What to do: Talk to your doctor about monitoring your symptoms or adjusting your medication while taking this antifungal drug.
Some drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives include: phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, bosentan, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, rifampicin, topiramate, rifabutin, rufinamide, aprepitant, and products containing St.
Mechanism: Griseofulvin causes your body to process birth control hormones faster, which can make the birth control less effective at preventing pregnancy.
What to do: Use a backup method of birth control, such as condoms, while taking this medication.
Common Questions
How long will I need to take this medicine?
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
Will this medicine affect my birth control?
What should I do if I get a rash while taking this medicine?
Can I take this medicine if I have kidney problems?
Is it okay to stop taking this medicine when my symptoms are gone?
Can children take this medicine?
Does this medicine interact with other medicines I am taking?
Can I drive while taking this medicine?
What kind of lab tests will I need while taking this medicine?
What are the common side effects of griseofulvin?
Does griseofulvin interact with other medications?
What drug class is griseofulvin?
Is griseofulvin safe during pregnancy?
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What the FDA Data Shows for griseofulvin
The FDA label for griseofulvin (sold under brand names such as Grifulvin V) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Antifungal class. This medicine treats fungal infections called dermatophyte infections. Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Headache, Nausea, Vomiting.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 136 voluntary reports. The database also lists 12 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.33.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: November 4, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages