How long after taking Terbinafine can you drink coffee?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
This brief article with discuss the concomitant use of Terbinafine and coffee. We will discuss the potential risks of taking the two together and will also talk about the safe ways to consume caffeine while minimising the risk of adverse events.
How long after taking Terbinafine can you drink coffee?
It is not generally recommended to drink coffee while being treated with oral Terbinafine, an antifungal medication. Terbinafine can affect the liver’s ability to process caffeine – the active ingredient present in coffee (1).
To ensure the effectiveness and safety of your treatment, it’s best to avoid drinking coffee while you are on Terbinafine. If you have any concerns or questions, it’s always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider.
What does research suggest?
There is limited research on the effects of Terbinafine on caffeine metabolism. However, some studies do show a link between them. In one research study conducted by Wahllander and Paumgartner, it was observed that Terbinafine led to a 21% reduction in caffeine clearance (2).
In another study, researchers examined how Terbinafine affects the liver’s microsomal system. To do this, they gave a single oral dose of Terbinafine to 8 healthy men and observed how the liver processed caffeine, which works similarly to the drug (3).
The results revealed that Terbinafine had a strong impact on the liver’s ability to break down caffeine. As a result, caffeine stayed in the body for a longer period when Terbinafine was taken (3).
However, the medication itself remained within the appropriate range in the body, meaning it was still effective at treating infections (3).
This indicates that drinking coffee along with Terbinafine will not affect the potency or efficacy of the antifungal agent, but can prolong the stay time of caffeine in your system, which can increase the risk of caffeine-induced side effects.
What are the potential side effects of drinking coffee with Terbinafine?
As stated earlier, Terbinafine can prolong caffeine metabolism – which means it remains in your body in an active form for a longer period of time. This can increase the risk of common side effects of caffeine consumption and they may become more pronounced.
Common side effects associated with caffeine include: (4)
- Anxiety
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fast heart rate
- Dehydration
- Frequent urination
These side effects can vary from person to person, and can also depend on the amount of coffee consumed along with Terbinafine. This is why it’s generally recommended by doctors to avoid drinking coffee while taking Terbinafine.
The drug has a long elimination half-life, which means you will have to wait a long time until the drug has been completely removed from your body (5). However, if you can’t do well without your usual cup of coffee in the morning, please discuss this with your doctor.
You should also avoid Terbinafine with alcoholic beverages, as this combination can also affect your central nervous system. Alcohol can also slow down your body’s natural ability to heal from an ongoing fungal infection.
What to do if you have accidentally consumed coffee while taking Terbinafine?
Accidental caffeine intake once or twice with Terbinafine is not likely to cause major side effects and you may not need to do anything about it. However, if you feel unusual or if you are experiencing caffeine-induced side effects, please seek medical attention.
Since the antifungal agent slows down the breakdown and removal of caffeine, it may take some time for you to feel better. You can take OTC painkillers, like Tylenol, for headaches. It is also important to drink plenty of water, as caffeine is a mild diuretic and it will keep removing water from your body to some extent (6).
Again, these side effects will get better as soon as the concentration of caffeine starts to drop down in your body. However, it’s best to seek medical attention if you feel unusually anxious.
What other drug interactions are common with Terbinafine?
Terbinafine, as per the FDA guidelines, may also interact with certain medications, including Cimetidine, Fluconazole, Cyclosporine, and Rifampin (1). It’s crucial to be aware of these potential drug interactions to ensure the safe and effective use of Terbinafine.
If you are taking any of these medications or others, it’s essential to discuss them with your healthcare provider before starting Terbinafine treatment.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the potential side effects of drinking coffee with Terbinafine. We have also discussed some options for symptom management and have discussed other medications that should not be taken along with Terbinafine.
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References
1.-
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. LAMISIL (terbinafine hydrochloride) tablets, for oral use. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/020539s033lbl.pdf
2.-
Trépanier EF, Nafziger AN, Amsden GW. Effect of terbinafine on theophylline pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1998 Mar;42(3):695-7. doi: 10.1128/AAC.42.3.695. PMID: 9517954; PMCID: PMC105520. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC105520/
3.-
Wahlländer A, Paumgartner G. Effect of ketoconazole and terbinafine on the pharmacokinetics of caffeine in healthy volunteers. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1989;37(3):279-83. doi: 10.1007/BF00679784. PMID: 2612543. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2612543/
4.-
National Library of Medicine. Caffeine: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/caffeine.html
5.-
PubChem [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; 2004-. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 1549008, Terbinafine; [cited 2023 Aug. 3]. Available from: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Terbinafine
6.-
Marx B, Scuvée É, Scuvée-Moreau J, Seutin V, Jouret F. Mécanismes de l’effet diurétique de la caféine [Mechanisms of caffeine-induced diuresis]. Med Sci (Paris). 2016 May;32(5):485-90. French. doi: 10.1051/medsci/20163205015. Epub 2016 May 25. PMID: 27225921. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27225921/
