Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%

Drug class:Topical anti-infectives
Approval date: April 9, 2009
Company: Sciele Pharma, Inc.
Treatment for: Head Lice

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 31, 2022.

FDA Approves Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5%

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...