Key takeaways
Terbinafine tablets and clotrimazole lozenges are both antifungal medications, but they treat different types of infections. Terbinafine is used to treat fungal infections of the fingernails and toenails and is taken as a once-daily tablet for several weeks. In contrast, clotrimazole (former brand name: Mycelex) is used to treat and prevent oral thrush and comes as a lozenge that you dissolve in your mouth multiple times a day. Terbinafine can cause side effects like headache, rash, and upset stomach, and it may interact with other medications. Clotrimazole has fewer side effects, mainly causing nausea and an unpleasant feeling in the mouth. Terbinafine is not recommended for people with liver problems, while clotrimazole lozenges should be used with caution in those with liver issues. Both medications require a prescription for oral forms, but both also have over-the-counter topical forms available.
