malathion
Malathion is a prescription lotion used for treating head lice in people 6 years and older. You massage just enough medication into dry hair so that the hair and scalp becomes wet. Leave malathion in and allow it to dry naturally. This process typically takes about 8 to 12 hours, which is much longer than other head lice treatments. Side effects of malathion include irritation to the skin and scalp.
What is Malathion?
What is Malathion used for?
- Head lice
How Malathion works
Drug facts
Side effects of Malathion
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Irritation to skin and scalp (e.g., stinging sensation)
Less Common Side Effects
- Skin burns
The following Malathion side effects have also been reported
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:
Rare
Skin rash
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Abdominal or stomach cramps
anxiety or restlessness
clumsiness or unsteadiness
confusion or mental depression
convulsions (seizures)
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:
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.
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Pros and cons of Malathion
Pros
- Works well for treating head lice
- Might kill some nits (lice eggs)
- Available as a lower-cost generic
Cons
- Need to leave in hair for up to 12 hours, longer than other head lice treatments
- Shouldn't be used on children younger than 6 years old
- Might require a second treatment
- Can cause eye irritation if you get it in your eyes
Pharmacist tips for Malathion
- Apply and gently rub in malathion into your dry hair and scalp. Apply just enough medication to wet your hair and scalp. Leave malathion in and allow it to naturally dry for 8 to 12 hours.
- While you're waiting for malathion to dry, don't expose your hair to heat or any open flames, because the medication is flammable (it can catch on fire).
- After the malathion in your hair has dried, wash your hair with regular shampoo. Then, use a nit comb to remove any dead lice and eggs. Check for live lice every few days for 2-3 weeks to make sure they're gone.
- You might experience a stinging sensation on your head when using malathion. This should go away, but if it doesn't you should contact your healthcare provider.
- Don't apply more malathion than what's recommended. Doing so might cause the lotion to flow and fall onto other areas of your skin and body. This can lead to serious side effects, such as burns or eye irritations.
- You can re-apply malathion in 7 to 9 days if you still have lice.
- Wash and dry contaminated clothes, hats, bedding, and towels that you've been in contact with up to 2 days before treatment.
- Let your provider know if you're breastfeeding, since it isn't known if malathion can get into your milk and harm your baby.
- Avoid getting malathion into your eyes because it can cause irritation. Wash your hands after applying malathion.
- Store malathion in a cool dark place at room temperature.
Common questions about Malathion
You can repeat the process of using malathion for a second time after 7 to 9 days. Usually, a third time isn't needed. If malathion isn't working even after using it twice, talk to your healthcare provider about other options for treating head lice.
You shouldn't dry your hair after applying malathion, because the medication is flammable and could catch on fire. Don't use hair dryers, cigarettes, electric curlers, or go near open flames when malathion is in your hair.
Malathion hasn't been well-studied in human pregnancy. Animal studies didn't show any abnormal changes to the unborn baby with very high doses of the medication. Keep in mind that animal studies don't always predict what happens in humans correctly, so the risk of harm to unborn babies in humans can't be ruled out. Ask your provider about whether malathion is a possible option for treating head lice during pregnancy.
Head lice usually only live 1 to 2 days if they fall off your head. It's not necessary to spend a lot of time on special house cleaning services. Wash your bed sheets, pillowcases, and clothing that you've used 2 days before you apply the treatment. Make sure to wash them in hot water. Then, dry using the high-heat dryer setting. If you have items you can't wash, you can dry clean them, or place them in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks.
Yes. Malathion can kill some lice eggs. However, most lice medications don't kill all of the eggs. Removal of all of the eggs after treatment is usually not necessary, but some experts recommend to manually remove the nits (lice eggs) from the hair that are attached less than 1 cm from the scalp. You can do this with a comb. Follow up with your healthcare provider for specific treatment instructions. If live lice are found 7 to 9 days after your malathion treatment, your provider might recommend you to repeat the treatment again.
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Risks and warnings for Malathion
Malathion can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Flammable
Malathion is flammable, meaning it can easily catch on fire. After applying malathion, don't smoke, stand near open flames, or use hair dryers and electric curlers. Make sure your hair naturally dries, and leave it uncovered.
Avoid contact with eyes
Avoid getting malathion in your eyes because this medication can cause your eyes to become red and irritated. If your eyes are exposed, flush your eyes with water right away. Let your healthcare provider know if your eye still remains irritated or if you notice vision changes.
Skin irritation
Malathion can irritate your skin. Wash off malathion, and wait for it to clear. Once cleared, you can try applying malathion again. However, if irritation happens again, stop the medication and talk to your healthcare provider.
Chemical burns
Some people have experienced stinging or burning sensation, including second-degree burns, on skin that's been exposed to malathion. To lower you risk, don't use malathion more than what your healthcare provider recommended. If you're still having lice problems, talk to your healthcare provider before using more.
Malathion dosage
Bottle of lotion| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59ml of 0.5% | 1 bottle | $76.35 | $76.35 |
Typical dosage for Malathion
Apply malathion on dry hair just enough to wet the hair and scalp, including the back of your head and neck. Allow your hair to naturally dry (don't use an electric dryer), uncovered.
After 8 to 12 hours, shampoo and wash your hair. Use a fine-toothed nit comb to remove any dead lice and eggs from your hair. If lice are still present after 7 to 9 days, you can repeat.
Interactions between Malathion and other drugs
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.
How much does Malathion cost?
$76.35
Malathion contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Malathion will not be safe for you to take.
- Babies and infants
What are alternatives to Malathion?
News about Malathion
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