Introduction

Pediculicide; avermectin derivative.

Uses for Ivermectin (Topical)

Pediculosis

Topical treatment of pediculosis capitis (head lice infestation) in adults and children ≥6 months of age.

AAP and others usually recommend topical treatment with OTC preparation of permethrin 1% or pyrethrins with piperonyl butoxide for initial treatment; other topical pediculicides (e.g., malathion 0.5%, benzyl alcohol 5%, spinosad 0.9%) recommended if OTC preparations ineffective or permethrin or pyrethrin resistance suspected. Oral ivermectin recommended as an alternative for infestations not responding to or resistant to topical agents.

Ivermectin (Topical) Dosage and Administration

General

Measures to Avoid Reinfestation and Transmission of Lice

• To avoid reinfestation or transmission of lice, most experts recommend that clothing, hats, bed linen, and towels worn or used by infested individual during the 2 days prior to treatment be decontaminated (machine-washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer).

• Items that cannot be laundered can be dry-cleaned or sealed in a plastic bag for 2 weeks.

• Decontaminate combs, brushes, and hair clips used by infested individual by soaking in hot water (>54°C) for 5–10 minutes.

• Thoroughly vacuum car seats, upholstered furniture, and floors of rooms inhabited by infested individual. Fumigation of living areas not necessary.

• Evaluate other family members and close contacts of infested individual and treat if lice infestation present. Some clinicians suggest treating family members who share a bed with infested individual, even if no live lice found on this family member. Ideally, treat all infested household members and close contacts at same time.

• A fine-toothed or nit comb may be used to remove any remaining nits (eggs) or nit shells from hair. Some clinicians do not consider nit removal necessary since only live lice can be transmitted, but recommend it for aesthetic reasons and to decrease diagnostic confusion and unnecessary retreatment. Other clinicians recommend removal of nits (especially those within 1 cm of scalp) to decrease risk of reinfestation since no pediculicide is 100% ovicidal and potentially viable nits may remain on hair after treatment. Although many schools will not allow children with nits to attend, AAP and other experts consider these no-nit policies excessive.

Administration

Topical Administration

Apply topically to scalp and hair as 0.5% lotion.

For external use only. Do not administer orally or intravaginally; do not apply topically to eyes.

Apply to dry scalp and hair in amount sufficient to thoroughly coat hair and scalp. Leave lotion on hair and scalp for 10 minutes, then thoroughly rinse off with warm (not hot) water. Minimize exposing other areas of skin by performing rinse at a sink (rather than in shower or bath).

Avoid contact with eyes. If contact with eyes occurs, immediately flush with water.

Available in single-use tube; discard any unused portion.

Supervise pediatric patients during lotion application; an adult should apply and rinse the lotion for the child. (See Inadvertent Ingestion in Pediatric Patients under Cautions.)

Wash hands after applying the lotion.

Dosage

Pediatric Patients

Pediculosis

Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice Infestation)

Infants and children ≥6 months of age: Manufacturer recommends single application.

Apply to dry hair and scalp in an amount sufficient to completely coat hair and scalp. After 10 minutes, thoroughly rinse lotion off with water. (See Administration under Dosage and Administration.)

Adults

Pediculosis

Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice Infestation)

Manufacturer recommends single application.

Apply to dry hair and scalp in an amount sufficient to completely coat hair and scalp. After 10 minutes, thoroughly rinse lotion off with water. (See Administration under Dosage and Administration.)

Prescribing Limits

Pediatric Patients

Pediculosis

Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice Infestation)

Infants and children ≥6 months of age: Do not exceed single tube of lotion (120 mL).

Adults

Pediculosis

Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice Infestation)

Do not exceed single tube of lotion (120 mL).

Special Populations

No special population dosage recommendations.

Contraindications

• No known contraindications.

Warnings/Precautions

Inadvertent Ingestion in Pediatric Patients

To prevent ingestion in pediatric patients, use only under direct supervision of an adult. (See Pediatric Use under Cautions.)

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Category C.

Lactation

Not known whether distributed into milk after topical application. Use with caution in nursing women.

Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy not established in infants <6 months of age; greater skin surface area to body mass ratio and potentially immature skin barrier in this age group may increase systemic absorption and toxicity. Use only in infants and children ≥6 months of age.

Keep out of the reach of children; use only under direct supervision of an adult.

Geriatric Use

Insufficient experience in adults ≥65 years of age to determine whether geriatric patients respond differently than younger adults.

Common Adverse Effects

Conjunctivitis, ocular hyperemia, eye irritation, dandruff, dry skin, burning skin sensation.

General

Measures to Avoid Reinfestation and Transmission of Lice

• To avoid reinfestation or transmission of lice, most experts recommend that clothing, hats, bed linen, and towels worn or used by infested individual during the 2 days prior to treatment be decontaminated (machine-washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer).

• Items that cannot be laundered can be dry-cleaned or sealed in a plastic bag for 2 weeks.

• Decontaminate combs, brushes, and hair clips used by infested individual by soaking in hot water (>54°C) for 5–10 minutes.

• Thoroughly vacuum car seats, upholstered furniture, and floors of rooms inhabited by infested individual. Fumigation of living areas not necessary.

• Evaluate other family members and close contacts of infested individual and treat if lice infestation present. Some clinicians suggest treating family members who share a bed with infested individual, even if no live lice found on this family member. Ideally, treat all infested household members and close contacts at same time.

• A fine-toothed or nit comb may be used to remove any remaining nits (eggs) or nit shells from hair. Some clinicians do not consider nit removal necessary since only live lice can be transmitted, but recommend it for aesthetic reasons and to decrease diagnostic confusion and unnecessary retreatment. Other clinicians recommend removal of nits (especially those within 1 cm of scalp) to decrease risk of reinfestation since no pediculicide is 100% ovicidal and potentially viable nits may remain on hair after treatment. Although many schools will not allow children with nits to attend, AAP and other experts consider these no-nit policies excessive.

Administration

Topical Administration

Apply topically to scalp and hair as 0.5% lotion.

For external use only. Do not administer orally or intravaginally; do not apply topically to eyes.

Apply to dry scalp and hair in amount sufficient to thoroughly coat hair and scalp. Leave lotion on hair and scalp for 10 minutes, then thoroughly rinse off with warm (not hot) water. Minimize exposing other areas of skin by performing rinse at a sink (rather than in shower or bath).

Avoid contact with eyes. If contact with eyes occurs, immediately flush with water.

Available in single-use tube; discard any unused portion.

Supervise pediatric patients during lotion application; an adult should apply and rinse the lotion for the child. (See Inadvertent Ingestion in Pediatric Patients under Cautions.)

Wash hands after applying the lotion.

Dosage

Pediatric Patients

Pediculosis

Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice Infestation)

Infants and children ≥6 months of age: Manufacturer recommends single application.

Apply to dry hair and scalp in an amount sufficient to completely coat hair and scalp. After 10 minutes, thoroughly rinse lotion off with water. (See Administration under Dosage and Administration.)

Adults

Pediculosis

Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice Infestation)

Manufacturer recommends single application.

Apply to dry hair and scalp in an amount sufficient to completely coat hair and scalp. After 10 minutes, thoroughly rinse lotion off with water. (See Administration under Dosage and Administration.)

Prescribing Limits

Pediatric Patients

Pediculosis

Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice Infestation)

Infants and children ≥6 months of age: Do not exceed single tube of lotion (120 mL).

Adults

Pediculosis

Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice Infestation)

Do not exceed single tube of lotion (120 mL).

Special Populations

No special population dosage recommendations.