What is Permethrin?
Permethrin is a topical cream used to treat scabies. Its solution is a neurotoxin that works by paralyzing nerves in the respiratory muscles of scabies and causing their death. The FDA approved Permethrin in August 1989.
What are the Uses of Permethrin?
- Permethrin is used to treat scabies, a skin condition caused by mites.
- It works by paralyzing and killing the mites and their eggs.
- The medication is effective against mites that infest and irritate the skin.
- Permethrin is suitable for use in adults and children.
- It is applied directly to the skin to treat scabies infestations.
What are the Side Effects of Permethrin?
Some of the common side effects of Permethrin are:
- Itching of skin or scalp area
- Redness of the skin
- Numbness or tingling of the skin
- Rash
Some of the serious side effects of Permethrin are:
- Trouble in breathing
- Continued irritation of the skin
- Infected or pus-filled areas.
What are the Precautions of Permethrin?
Talk to your doctor if you’re allergic to Permethrin or any other medications. Also, tell your doctor if you are taking any nutritional supplements, vitamins, or other herbal products.
Before using Permethrin, talk to your doctor if you ever had any serious skin conditions or sensitivity.
How to use Permethrin?
Permethrin comes as a cream for the skin and as a lotion for the scalp and hair.
- Single Treatment: For scabies, Permethrin cream is usually applied as a single treatment.
- Multiple Treatments: The scalp lotion might need one or two treatments and sometimes a third treatment if live mites are seen after 14 days.
- Application Areas: Permethrin is only applied to the skin, hair, and scalp.
- Avoid Contact: Do not use it on the eyebrows and eyelashes.
To use permethrin cream, follow the steps:
- Apply a thin layer of cream all over the skin from neck to toes, which also includes soles of the feet. While applying the cream on skin folds such as toes and fingers you should be more careful.
- Leave the cream on the skin up to 8-14 hours.
- After 8-14 hours wash the skin with water.
- The skin may be itchy after applying permethrin cream. If the mites are still alive you should remove the treatment process.
To use Lotion, follow the steps:
- Wash your hair with shampoo. Avoid using a conditioner or shampoo that contains conditioner because the treatment may not work well.
- Dry your hair.
- Shake the Permethrin lotion before using it.
- Use a towel for covering the face and be careful while using the treatment.
- Apply Permethrin lotion in your hair and scalp area. Apply the lotion behind the ears and at the back of your neck and cover all the hair.
- Keep the lotion on the hair and scalp for at least 10 minutes
- Rinse the hair with warm water. Don’t use shower or bathtub for washing your hair or the lotion can spread over the body.
- Dry the hair with a towel.
What if one Missed the Dose?
Missing one or two- doses of Permethrin won’t show any effect on your body. The skipped dose causes no problem. But with some medication, it won’t work if you don’t take the dosage on time. If you miss a dose, a sudden chemical change may affect your body. In some cases, your doctor would advise you to take the prescribed medicine as soon as possible if you have missed the dose.
What happens if someone takes an overdose?
Overdose of a drug can be accidental. If you have taken more than the prescribed Permethrin tablets there is a chance of getting a harmful effect on your body’s functions. Overdose of a medicine can lead to some medical emergency.
Warnings for serious health conditions:
Pregnancy
There is no proper study on whether to use Permethrin during pregnancy or not. Before using Permethrin, talk to your doctor.
Breastfeeding
It is not known whether permethrin gets in contact with breast milk or not. Before using Permethrin, talk to your doctor.
How to Store Permethrin?
- Direct contact with heat, air and light may damage your medicines. The exposure of medicine may cause some harmful effects. The medicine must be kept in a safe place and out of children’s reach.
- Mainly the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF (20ºC and 25ºC).
- Before taking permethrin consult your Doctor. In case if you face any problems or get any side effects after taking permethrin rush immediately to your nearby hospital or consult your doctor for better treatment. Carry your medications always in your bag while travelling to avoid any immediate emergencies. Follow your prescription and follow your Doctor advice whenever you take permethrin.
Permethrin vs Ivermectin
| Permethrin | Ivermectin |
|---|---|
| Permethrin is a topical cream used for treating scabies. Permethrin solution is a neurotoxin that works by paralyzing nerves in the respiratory muscles of scabies and causing their death. | Ivermectin is an anti-parasite medication. It is used for treating infections in the body which are caused by certain parasites. |
| Permethrin is used for treating scabies and the condition which are caused by tiny insects called mites that infest and irritate the skin. The medication works by paralyzing and killing the mites and their eggs. | Ivermectin is used for intestinal infection which is caused by Strongyloides stercoralis. |
Some serious side effects of Permethrin are:
|
Some Seriois side effects of Ivermectin are:
|
