Medications

Follow the doctor's instructions for prescription anti-lice agents, if prescribed.

• Do not apply to eyes, face, or mucous membranes.
  
  
• Discuss treatment with the doctor if you are pregnant.
  
  
• Common prescription anti-lice agents
  
  
  • Elimite cream (permethrin 5%) may be used in children over 2 months of age.
    
    
  • Kwell shampoo or cream (lindane 1%) is generally considered at "last ditch" medication due to the possibility of neurotoxicity enhanced by absorption through open sores or excessive application. Guidelines recommend patients weight at least 110 pounds to use this treatment.
    
    
  • Ovide lotion (malathion 0.5%) may be used in children over 6 years of age. There are few side effects (stinging when open sores are exposed).
    
    
• If you have ragweed allergies, avoid permethrin (Elimite, Nix) and pyrethrin (Rid, A-200) products.
  
  
• Lindane is considered a second-line treatment if other medications fail or are not tolerated. It is not very safe in children and may cause neurotoxicity (dizziness, seizures).
  
  
• Studies in 2001 demonstrated that combination therapy using topical 1% Permethrin (Nix) and the oral antibiotic trimethoprim/sulfamethoxizole (Septra or Bactrum) was effective for head-lice infestations which were poorly responsive to traditional therapies.

Learn more about medications like permethrin (Elimite), lindane (Kwell), and malathion (Ovide) on RxList.com.

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