The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%, the first and only prescription medication that kills head lice by asphyxiation without potential neurotoxic side effects.
Each year, approximately 6 to 12 million children between the ages of 3 and 12 years are infested with head lice. To survive, lice breathe through sophisticated spiracles that close upon contact with most liquids, allowing the lice to go into suspended animation and survive for hours without respiration. Benzyl alcohol prevents lice from closing their spiracles, thereby asphyxiating them within ten minutes and causing death.
Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% Patient Information
Read the Patient Information that comes with Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% before you start using it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This leaflet does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.
Note: For use on scalp hair and scalp only
What is Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%?
Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% is a prescription medicine used to get rid of lice in scalp hair of children and adults. It is not known if Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% is safe for children under 6 months of age or in people over age 60.
Once Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% is washed off, a fine-tooth comb may be used to remove treated lice and nits from the hair and scalp. All personal items exposed to the hair or lice should be washed in hot water or dry-cleaned. See "How do I stop the spread of lice?" at the end of this leaflet.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before I use Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%?
Tell your healthcare provider if your baby was born early so your healthcare provider can decide if your infant is old enough for Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%.
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have any skin conditions or sensitivities,
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% can harm your unborn baby,
- are breastfeeding. It is not known if Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% passes into your breast milk or if it can harm your baby. You should choose to breastfeed or use Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%, but not both. Talk to your healthcare provider about other ways to feed your baby while using Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%.
How should I use Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%?
- Use Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will prescribe the treatment that is right for you. Do not change your treatment unless you talk to your healthcare provider.
- Use Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% in two treatments that are one week apart. Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% gets rid of lice but does not get rid of lice eggs so a second treatment is needed one week (7 days) after the first treatment.
- Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% coats the lice on your scalp and scalp hair. It is important to use enough Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% to coat completely every single louse and to leave it on your scalp for the full 10 minutes. See the detailed Patient Instructions for Use at the end of this leaflet.
- Because you need to completely cover all of the lice with Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%, you may need help in applying Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% to your scalp and hair. Make sure that you and anyone who helps you apply Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% reads and understands this leaflet and the Patient Instructions for Use.
- Children need adult help in applying Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%.
- Do not get into eyes. If Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% gets in the eye, flush with water right away.
- Do not swallow Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%. If swallowed, call your healthcare provider right away.
- Wash your hands after you apply Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%.
What are the possible side effects of Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%?
People using Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% may have skin or eye:
- itching,
- redness,
- irritation. If skin or eye irritation happens, rinse with water right away, then call your healthcare provider or go to the emergency department.
These are not all the side effects of Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%. For more information, ask your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
How should I store Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%?
- Store Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% in a dry place at room temperature, (59° to 86°F or 15° to 30°C).
- Do not freeze Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%.
Keep Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% and all medicines out of the reach of children.
What are the ingredients in Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%?
Active ingredient: benzyl alcohol, 5%
Inactive ingredients: purified water, mineral oil, sorbitan monooleate, polysorbate 80, carbomer 934P and trolamine
General Information about Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions other than those described in the patient information leaflets. Do not use Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% for any condition for which it was not prescribed by your healthcare provider. Do not give Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% to other people, even if they have the same symptoms as you. It may harm them.
This leaflet summarizes the most important information about Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%. If you would like more information, talk to your healthcare provider. You can also ask your healthcare provider for information about Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% that is written for healthcare professionals.
