Two medicines, side by side
Griseofulvin vs terbinafine
Griseofulvin and terbinafine are both labeled for fungal infections. Pharmacies paid $3.74 per griseofulvin ultra 250 mg tablet and $0.143 per terbinafine HCl 250 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026). In FDA's classes, griseofulvin is a tubulin inhibiting agent and terbinafine an allylamine antifungal.
Check it at the source: the griseofulvin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 10, 2025); the terbinafine FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 17, 2025).
Highlights of the griseofulvin record
Griseofulvin · label of December 10, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsUltramicrosize griseofulvin tablets are indicated for the treatment of the following ringworm infections; tinea corporis (ringworm of the body), tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), tinea cruris (ringworm of the groin and thigh), tinea barbae (barber’s itch), tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp), and tinea unguium (onychomycosis, ringworm of the nails), when caused by one or more of the following genera of fungi: […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- 10 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $3.74 per tablet
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 (Griseofulvin label of December 10, 2025, Terbinafine label of October 17, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do griseofulvin and terbinafine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, griseofulvin is a tubulin inhibiting agent and terbinafine an allylamine antifungal.
Generics: griseofulvin none approved; terbinafine since 2007 (Drugs@FDA).
| Griseofulvin | Terbinafine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fungal infections | Fungal infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Tubulin Inhibiting Agent | 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) | n/a | December 30, 1992 |
| First generic approved | none | July 2, 2007 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 10 labelers | 39 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $3.74 per tablet (Griseofulvin ultra 250 mg tablet) | $0.143 per tablet (Terbinafine HCl 250 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -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) | 286 | 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 griseofulvin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions