Two medicines, side by side
Fluconazole vs terbinafine
Fluconazole and terbinafine are both labeled for fungal infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of fluconazole since 1990 and of terbinafine since 1992. Pharmacies paid $0.380 per fluconazole 200 mg tablet 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, fluconazole is an azole antifungal and terbinafine an allylamine antifungal.
Check it at the source: the fluconazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 7, 2026); the terbinafine FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 17, 2025).
Highlights of the fluconazole record
Fluconazole (Diflucan) · label of April 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsFluconazole tablets are indicated for the treatment of: Vaginal candidiasis (vaginal yeast infections due to Candida ). Oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 29, 1990
- Generic labelers
- 41 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.380 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 18
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 (Fluconazole label of April 7, 2026, Terbinafine label of October 17, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do fluconazole and terbinafine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, fluconazole is an azole antifungal and terbinafine an allylamine antifungal.
Half-life, in each label's words: Fluconazole, “Peak plasma concentrations (C max ) in fasted normal volunteers occur between 1 and 2 hours with a terminal plasma …”; Terbinafine, “eady-state, in comparison to a single dose, the peak concentration of terbinafine is 25% higher and plasma AUC …”
Generics: fluconazole since 2004; terbinafine since 2007 (Drugs@FDA).
| Fluconazole | Terbinafine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fungal infections, Urinary tract 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) | Peak plasma concentrations (C max ) in fasted normal volunteers occur between 1 and 2 hours with a terminal plasma elimination half-life of approximately 30 hours (range: 20 to 50 hours) after oral administration. | 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) | January 29, 1990 | December 30, 1992 |
| First generic approved | July 29, 2004 | July 2, 2007 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 41 labelers | 39 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.380 per tablet (Fluconazole 200 mg tablet) | $0.143 per tablet (Terbinafine HCl 250 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | -5% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 18 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 69,671 | 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Terbinafine label, drug interactionsThe influence of terbinafine on the pharmacokinetics of fluconazole, cotrimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole), zidovudine or theophylline was not considered to be clinically significant.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to fluconazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions