amiodarone vs terbinafine

PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.

Side-by-side comparison of amiodarone and terbinafine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Based on this finding, it is likely that other inhibitors of both CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 (e.g., ketoconazole, amiodarone) may also lead to a substantial increase in the systemic exposure (C max and AUC) of terbinafine when concomitantly administered.

Drug Class
amiodarone Class III Antiarrhythmic
terbinafine Allylamine Antifungal
Type
amiodarone Prescription
terbinafine Prescription
Summary
amiodarone

Amiodarone (Pacerone) is a medicine used to treat life-threatening, irregular heartbeats. It helps to restore a normal heart rhythm when other medicines don't work or can't be used.

terbinafine

Terbinafine is an antifungal medicine. It is used to treat fungal infections of the fingernails and toenails.

What It Treats
amiodarone

This medicine treats very fast, irregular heartbeats in the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart). It is used when these irregular heartbeats are life-threatening. It is also used when other medicines don't work well enough or cause too many side effects. This medicine is for adults.

terbinafine

Terbinafine treats onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the toenails or fingernails. Before you start taking this medicine, your doctor should take a nail sample. This is to make sure the infection is caused by a fungus.

How It Works
amiodarone

Amiodarone affects the electrical signals in your heart. It slows down these signals, which helps your heart beat normally. This medicine can help prevent dangerous, fast heart rhythms.

terbinafine

Terbinafine belongs to a class of medicines called allylamine antifungals. It works by stopping the growth of fungi. This eventually kills the fungus causing the infection.

Common Side Effects
amiodarone
  • Low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism)
  • High thyroid levels (hyperthyroidism)
  • Heart failure
  • Irregular heartbeats
  • Problems with the heart's natural pacemaker (SA node dysfunction)
terbinafine
  • Headache
  • Diarrhea
  • Rash
  • Upset stomach
  • Abnormal liver enzyme tests
FAERS Reports
amiodarone
  • Dyspnoea 1,158
  • Asthenia 975
  • Fatigue 895
  • Nausea 606
  • Cough 597
terbinafine
  • Rash 391
  • Pruritus 316
  • Fatigue 300
  • Nausea 280
  • Ageusia 270
Serious Warnings
amiodarone

This medicine can cause serious problems with your lungs, liver, and heart. Lung problems can be fatal. Your doctor will check your lungs with X-rays and breathing tests. Liver problems can also be fatal. Your doctor will check your liver with blood tests. This medicine can also make irregular heartbeats worse. You will likely start this medicine in the hospital where your heart can be monitored.

terbinafine

Terbinafine can cause liver problems, including liver failure. Your doctor should check your liver before you start taking it and regularly while you are taking it. Tell your doctor right away if you have nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness, vomiting, pain in your upper right belly area, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or pale stools. If you have taste changes, stop taking terbinafine. These changes can be severe, long-lasting, or even permanent. Tell your doctor if you feel depressed or have other mood changes.

Pregnancy
amiodarone

This medicine can harm your unborn baby. It can cause thyroid problems, slow heart rate, and brain development issues. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine.

terbinafine

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if terbinafine will harm your unborn baby. Terbinafine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking this medicine.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This amiodarone vs terbinafine Comparison

amiodarone is classified in the Class III Antiarrhythmic drug class, while terbinafine sits within the Allylamine Antifungal class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, amiodarone has 4,231 submissions while terbinafine has 1,557. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to amiodarone blocks the enzymes that break down terbinafine, which can cause terbinafine levels to rise in your body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for amiodarone or terbinafine.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.