Formulary
Permethrin: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Permethrin clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Permethrin: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Permethrin clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Scabies**
- **Child** (To The Skin): Apply once weekly for 2 doses, apply 5% preparation over whole body including face, neck, scalp and ears then wash off after 8-12 hours. If hands are washed with soap within 8 hours of application, they should be treated again with cream.
- **Adult** (To The Skin): Apply once weekly for 2 doses, apply 5% preparation over whole body including face, neck, scalp and ears then wash off after 8-12 hours. If hands are washed with soap within 8 hours of application, they should be treated again with cream.
**Crab lice**
- **Adult** (To The Skin): Apply once weekly for 2 doses, apply 5% cream over whole body, allow to dry naturally and wash off after 12 hours or after leaving on overnight.
**Head lice**
- **Adult** (To The Skin): Not recommended; no information given.
**Scabies for permethrin**
- **Child** (To the skin): Apply once weekly for 2 doses, apply 5% preparation over whole body including face, neck, scalp and ears then wash off after 8-12 hours. If hands are washed with soap within 8 hours of application, they should be treated again with cream.
Cautions
Avoid contact with eyes; children aged 2 months-2 years, medical supervision required for dermal cream (scabies); children under 6 months, medical supervision required for cream rinse (head lice); do not use on broken or secondarily infected skin
Side effects
Frequency not known Scalp irritation; skin reactions
Interactions
**Other interactions (1):**
- The treatment of eczematous-like reactions with corticosteroids should be withheld prior to treatment with Permethrin 5% w/w Cream, as there is a risk of exacerbating the scabies infestation by...
Medicinal forms
Cream
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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