Malathion Topical

Malathion comes as a lotion to apply to the scalp and hair. It is usually applied to the scalp and hair in one or sometimes two treatments. If live lice are seen 7 to 9 days after the first treatment then apply a second treatment of malathion lotion. Follow the directions on your prescription label or the package label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use malathion lotion exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient. Read these instructions carefully.

Malathion lotion should only be used on the hair and scalp. If you experience skin irritation, wash scalp and hair right away. If the irritation gets better, you can apply malathion lotion again. If you experience skin irritation again, call your doctor.

Avoid getting malathion lotion in your eyes. If malathion lotion gets in your eyes, flush them with water right away. If your eyes are still irritated after flushing with water, call your doctor or get medical help right away.

To use the lotion, follow these steps:

1. Be sure to keep your eyes closed during this treatment. You may need to have an adult help you apply the lotion.
2. Apply malathion lotion to dry hair and scalp area paying special attention to area behind your ears and at the back of your neck. Be sure to use enough lotion to cover the entire scalp area and hair thoroughly.
3. Allow hair to air dry and to remain uncovered. Malathion lotion is flammable. The lotion and wet hair should not be exposed to open flames or electric heat sources, including hair dryers or curlers. Do not smoke while applying lotion or while hair is wet.
4. Leave the lotion on your hair and scalp for 8 to 12 hours.
5. After 8 to 12 hours have passed, shampoo your hair and scalp with warm water in a sink. You should not use a shower or bathtub to rinse the lotion away because you do not want to get the lotion over the rest of your body.
6. You and anyone who helped you apply the lotion should wash your hands carefully after the application and rinsing steps.
7. Use a lice comb to remove the dead lice and nits (empty egg shells) after this treatment. You may also need to have an adult help you to do this.
8. If you see live lice on your head 7 to 9 days after treatment, repeat this entire process.

After using malathion lotion, sanitize all the clothing, underwear, pajamas, hats, sheets, pillowcases, and towels you have used recently. These items should be washed in very hot water or dry-cleaned. You should also wash combs, brushes, hairs clips and other personal care items in hot water.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before using malathion lotion,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to malathion, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in malathion lotion. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any medical conditions or skin sensitivities.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using malathion lotion, call your doctor.

Ovide

1. Dry hair and scalp should be thoroughly wet with malathion lotion, including the back of the head and neck. The hands should be washed after applying.
2. The hair should not be covered and should dry naturally without using an electric heat source.
3. The hair should be shampooed after 8 to 12 hours, rinsed and combed with a fine - toothed (nit) comb to remove dead lice and eggs.
4. Malathion lotion should be applied again if lice are still present after 7 - 9 days.

Avoid getting this medication in your eyes. If this does happen, rinse with water.

Do not use other medicated skin products unless your doctor has told you to.

Avoid sexual or intimate contact with others until your lice or scabies infection has cleared up. Avoid sharing hair brushes, combs, hair accessories, hats, clothing, bed linens, and other articles of personal use. Lice and scabies infections are highly contagious.

It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied malathion. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

In the U.S.

• Ovide

Available Dosage Forms:

• Lotion

Therapeutic Class: Pediculicide

Chemical Class: Organophosphate

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For malathion, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to malathion or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of malathion topical in children younger than 6 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established. However, use of malathion in newborn and infants younger than 1 year of age is not recommended.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of malathion topical in geriatric patients.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of malathion. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Anemia, severe or
• Brain surgery, recent or
• Liver disease or
• Malnutrition—These conditions may increase the chance of some side effects of malathion.

• Asthma or
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorders or
• Heart disease or
• Myasthenia gravis or other nerve-muscle disease or
• Parkinson's disease or
• Stomach ulcer or other stomach or intestinal problems—May make these conditions worse.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Skin rash

• Blistering and peeling of the skin
• pain
• reddened skin
• swelling

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

• Abdominal or stomach cramps
• anxiety or restlessness
• clumsiness or unsteadiness
• confusion or mental depression
• convulsions (seizures)
• diarrhea
• difficult or labored breathing
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• increased sweating
• increased watering of the mouth or eyes
• loss of bowel or bladder control
• muscle twitching of the eyelids, face, and neck
• pinpoint pupils
• slow heartbeat
• trembling
• unusual weakness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Burning, dry, or itching eyes
• discharge or excessive tearing
• redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, inner lining of the eyelid
• stinging or irritation of the scalp

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Do not take this medication by mouth. It is for use only on your scalp.

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Keep your eyes tightly closed while applying malathion topical.

Use malathion on scalp hair only. Apply to dry hair. Use just enough lotion to wet the hair and scalp, making sure you also cover the back of the head and neck.

Wash your hands after applying the medication.

Allow your hair to air dry and do not cover your head.

Shampoo your hair after 8 to 12 hours, making sure you also wash the back of your head and neck. Rinse hair thoroughly.

While your hair is slightly damp, use a nit comb to remove lice eggs from the hair. Work on only one section of hair at a time, combing through 1- to 2-inch strands from the scalp to the ends.

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. Check the scalp again daily to make sure all nits have been removed.

If you feel severe scalp irritation when applying malathion, wash your hair and scalp right away. You may reapply the medicine at a later time, but if severe irritation occurs again call your doctor.

Malathion lotion is flammable. Do not use this medication near high heat or open flame. Do not use a curling iron, hair dryer, or other heat styler on treated hair. Warn children to stay away from open flames and electric heat sources while the hair is wet.

Do not smoke while applying malathion. Avoid being near a lighted cigarette while your hair is still wet with malathion.

Use a second application of malathion if you still see lice 7 to 9 days after your first treatment. If you still have lice after 2 treatments with malathion topical, call your doctor.

To prevent reinfection, 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 for at least 10 minutes.

For the most complete treatment of lice or scabies and to prevent reinfection, you must treat your environment (clothing, bedding, pillows, furniture, hats, hair brushes and accessories, etc) at the same time you treat your scalp.

Store this medicine at room temperature away from moisture, high heat, open flame, or electric heat sources.