What is the most important information I should know about benzyl alcohol topical?
Benzyl alcohol topical is used to treat head lice in people between the ages of 6 months and 60 years old. This medicine will not treat lice on other body areas.
Do not use this medication on a child or infant younger than 6 months old.
If the medicine gets in your eyes or on your skin, rinse with water. Call your doctor at once if you have severe stinging, itching, or irritation of the eyes or skin after rinsing.
Avoid head to head contact with others. Avoid sharing hair brushes, combs, hair accessories, hats, scarves, and pillows. Lice infections are highly contagious.
What is benzyl alcohol topical?
Benzyl alcohol topical (for the skin) is an anti-parasite medication.
Benzyl alcohol topical is used to treat head lice in people between the ages of 6 months and 60 years old.
Benzyl alcohol topical is for treating head lice only. It will not treat lice on other body areas.
Benzyl alcohol topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using benzyl alcohol topical?
You should not use benzyl alcohol topical if you are allergic to it.
To make sure benzyl alcohol topical is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have any conditions that make your skin sensitive.
FDA pregnancy category B. Benzyl alcohol topical is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether benzyl alcohol topical passes into breast milk. However, this medicine contains a preservative that may be harmful to a newborn. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not use this medication on a child or infant younger than 6 months old. Benzyl alcohol topical contains an ingredient that can cause serious side effects or death in very young infants or premature babies. Do not allow an older child to use this medicine without supervision of an adult.
How should I use benzyl alcohol topical?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Do not take this medication by mouth. It is for use only on the hair and scalp. When treating a child, an adult should apply the medicine.
Do not wet your hair or scalp before applying this medicine.
Use a towel to cover your face and eyes while applying benzyl alcohol topical. Keep your eyes tightly closed during application.
Apply enough lotion to completely soak your scalp and hair, including behind your ears and the back of your neck. Massage in thoroughly. You may need to use more than one bottle of benzyl alcohol topical for longer hair.
Wash your hands with soap and water after applying the medicine.
Leave the lotion on for 10 minutes, keeping your eyes closed and covered during this time. Then rinse out thoroughly with warm water.
You may shampoo your hair at any time after using benzyl alcohol topical.
After rinsing, use a fine-tooth nit comb to remove lice eggs from the hair. Rinse the nit comb often during use. Place removed nits into a sealed plastic bag and throw it into the trash to prevent re-infestation.
Benzyl alcohol topical will not get rid of lice eggs so you must use a second application of this medicine 7 days after the first use.
For the most complete treatment of head lice and to prevent reinfection, you must treat your environment at the same time you treat your scalp. Wash all clothing, hats, bed clothes, bed linens, and towels in hot water and dry in high heat. Dry-clean any non-washable clothing. Hair brushes, combs, and hair accessories should be soaked in hot water. Check everyone in your household for lice 1 week after finishing treatment.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Wait at least 7 days before using a second application.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if anyone has accidentally swallowed this medication.
What should I avoid while using benzyl alcohol topical?
Avoid getting this medicine in your eyes, mouth, or vagina.
To prevent spreading lice, avoid head to head contact with others until your lice infection has cleared up. Avoid sharing hair brushes, combs, hair accessories, hats, scarves, and pillows. Lice infections are highly contagious.
What are the possible side effects of benzyl alcohol topical?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
If the medicine gets in your eyes or on your skin, rinse with water. Call your doctor at once if you have severe stinging, itching, or irritation of the eyes or skin after rinsing.
Common side effects may include mild pain, itching, irritation, redness, or numbness of your scalp.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect benzyl alcohol topical?
It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied benzyl alcohol. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about benzyl alcohol topical.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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