Medication

Definitive treatment comes from the following drugs:

• Permethrin (Elimite) is a lice-killing product that is available over-the-counter without a prescription. When using this product it is important to exactly follow the instructions on the package.
  
  
  • Avoid mucous membranes, which are found at the tip of the penis and the opening of the vagina.
    
    
  • Repeat anti-lice treatment in seven to 10 days to kill nits that may have hatched.
  
  
• Lindane (Kwell): An alternative treatment when permethrin (Elimite) is not available. Lindane requires a doctor's prescription.
  
  
  • Apply for 10 minutes then rinse with warm water.
    
    
  • Lindane should not be used on children. Lindane can be toxic to the brain and nervous system and should only be used when other treatments have failed.
    
    
• Malathion lotion (Ovide) and ivermectin (Stromectol) are other prescription medications that have been shown to be effective against pubic lice or crabs.
  

• Use over-the-counter antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for itching.