Two medicines, side by side
Clotrimazole vs terbinafine
Clotrimazole and terbinafine are both labeled for fungal infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clotrimazole since 1975 and of terbinafine since 1992. Pharmacies paid $0.133 per gram (Clotrimazole 1% topical cream) and $0.143 per terbinafine HCl 250 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, clotrimazole is an azole antifungal and terbinafine an allylamine antifungal.
Check it at the source: the clotrimazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 30, 2026); the terbinafine FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 17, 2025).
Highlights of the clotrimazole record
Clotrimazole (Cvs) · label of January 30, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsClotrimazole cream USP is indicated for the topical treatment of candidiasis due to Candida albicans and tinea versicolor due to Malassezia furfur. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 3, 1975
- Generic labelers
- 24 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.133 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the terbinafine record
Terbinafine (Lamisil) · label of October 17, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsINDICATIONS AND USAGE Terbinafine tablets are indicated for the treatment of onychomycosis of the toenail or fingernail due to dermatophytes (tinea unguium). Prior to initiating treatment, appropriate nail specimens for laboratory testing [potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation, fungal culture, or nail biopsy] should be obtained to confirm the diagnosis of onychomycosis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 30, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 39 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.143 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clotrimazole label of January 30, 2026, Terbinafine label of October 17, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clotrimazole and terbinafine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, clotrimazole is an azole antifungal and terbinafine an allylamine antifungal.
Generics: clotrimazole since 1993; terbinafine since 2007 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clotrimazole | Terbinafine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fungal infections | Fungal infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Azole Antifungal | Allylamine Antifungal |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Terbinafine is an allylamine antifungal [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.4) ]. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | eady-state, in comparison to a single dose, the peak concentration of terbinafine is 25% higher and plasma AUC increases by a factor of 2.5; … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 3, 1975 | December 30, 1992 |
| First generic approved | July 16, 1993 | July 2, 2007 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 24 labelers | 39 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.133 per gram (Clotrimazole 1% topical cream) | $0.143 per tablet (Terbinafine HCl 250 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | -5% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 12,230 | 8,847 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to clotrimazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions