clozapine 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 clozapine 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

CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 Inhibitors Concomitant treatment with VERSACLOZ and CYP2D6 or CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., cimetidine, escitalopram, erythromycin, paroxetine, bupropion, fluoxetine, quinidine, duloxetine, terbinafine, or sertraline) can increase clozapine levels and lead to adverse reactions [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .

Drug Class
clozapine Atypical Antipsychotic
terbinafine Allylamine Antifungal
Type
clozapine Prescription
terbinafine Prescription
Summary
clozapine

Versacloz is a medicine used to treat severe schizophrenia when other medicines have not worked. It can also help lower the risk of suicidal behavior in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

terbinafine

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

What It Treats
clozapine

Versacloz is used to treat schizophrenia in people who haven't responded well to other antipsychotic medicines. Schizophrenia is a mental illness that can cause hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Versacloz can also help lower the risk of repeated suicidal behavior in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who are at high risk.

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
clozapine

Versacloz works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, like dopamine and serotonin, are involved in mood, behavior, and thinking. By changing the levels of these chemicals, Versacloz can help reduce symptoms of schizophrenia and lower the risk of suicidal behavior.

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
clozapine
  • Feeling sleepy
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Shaking
  • Fast heart rate
terbinafine
  • Headache
  • Diarrhea
  • Rash
  • Upset stomach
  • Abnormal liver enzyme tests
FAERS Reports
clozapine
  • Neutropenia 18,655
  • Hospitalisation 12,101
  • Death 11,398
  • Schizophrenia 4,547
  • White Blood Cell Count Increased 4,444
terbinafine
  • Rash 391
  • Pruritus 316
  • Fatigue 300
  • Nausea 280
  • Ageusia 270
Serious Warnings
clozapine

Versacloz can cause several serious side effects: * **Severe Neutropenia:** This means a dangerously low white blood cell count, which increases your risk of infection. You will need regular blood tests to check your white blood cell count. * **Orthostatic Hypotension, Bradycardia, and Syncope:** This means low blood pressure when standing up, slow heart rate, and fainting. These are most likely when you first start taking Versacloz or when the dose is increased. * **Seizures:** Versacloz can increase your risk of seizures, especially at higher doses. * **Myocarditis, Pericarditis, and Cardiomyopathy:** These are serious heart problems that can be fatal. Tell your doctor right away if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or other heart-related symptoms. * **Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis:** Elderly patients with dementia who take antipsychotic medicines like Versacloz have an increased risk of death.

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
clozapine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Babies born to mothers who take Versacloz in the third trimester may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems after birth. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take atypical antipsychotics like Versacloz.

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 clozapine vs terbinafine Comparison

clozapine is classified in the Atypical Antipsychotic 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, clozapine has 51,145 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 terbinafine blocks the enzymes that normally clear clozapine from your system, which can lead to higher levels of clozapine and more side effects.. 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 clozapine or terbinafine.

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