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FDA approval expands available head lice treatments
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The FDA has approved Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% (Sciele Pharma) as a treatment for children aged 6 months or older who have active head lice infestation.
More than 75% of 628 people participating in a study to evaluate the drug’s safety and effectiveness were free of lice 14 days following the second of two 10-minute treatments with the lotion.
“This drug is an effective treatment to eliminate lice infestation and minimize disruption in the daily routines of families,” Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a press release.
Benzyl Alcohol Lotion 5% is intended for use on the hair and scalp only. This medication is not approved for use in children younger than 6 months. Skin, scalp and eye irritation were among frequently reported side effects, as well as numbness at the site of application.