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lindane - topical shampoo

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GENERIC NAME: LINDANE - TOPICAL SHAMPOO (LINN-dane)

Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage

WARNING: This drug should only be used if other, safer medicines (e.g., permethrin) cannot be used or have not been effective. Do not use lindane to re-treat the same lice infestation after the first lindane treatment does not work.

Infrequently, lindane has caused seizures (sometimes death) after prolonged or repeated use. Rare (sometimes fatal) nervous system reactions such as seizures may occur, even after correct one-time use of lindane.

Lindane should not be used in premature infants or patients with poorly controlled seizures. In addition, lindane should be used with caution in infants, children, the elderly, patients with skin conditions (e.g., skin rash, psoriasis), and patients with low body weight (e.g., less than 110 pounds or 50 kilograms).

Itching may occur after either successful or failed treatments. Avoid re-applying lindane for a few months after use.

USES: This medication is used to treat head and crab (pubic) lice. Lice are tiny insects that lay eggs (nits) on hair shafts. Lice can easily spread to those in close contact with you. Lindane works by killing the lice and nits. An infection with lice is also called an infestation. This drug should not be used to prevent lice infestation or re-infestation.

HOW TO USE: Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using lindane. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.This drug can be poisonous if used incorrectly. Do not take this drug by mouth, and avoid contact with your eyes, nose, or mouth. If lindane gets in these areas, rinse with water immediately and seek immediate medical attention if a burning feeling remains. Do not use if there is skin irritation (e.g., open wounds, rash, cuts, or sores) on the area to be treated unless directed to do so by your doctor.Wash your hair with your regular shampoo (without conditioner) and dry it well. Do not apply any oil-based hair products immediately before or after using lindane. Wait at least 1 hour after drying your hair before using lindane shampoo.Most adults require only 1 ounce (30 milliliters), but those with longer and thicker hair should use no more than 2 ounces (60 milliliters).Shake the bottle well before use. For application, use gloves made of nitrile, latex with neoprene, or sheer vinyl to avoid unnecessary contact with your skin. Do not use natural latex gloves because more lindane can penetrate that type of glove. Apply a small amount of lindane to lightly coat your hair and scalp as directed by your doctor. Work thoroughly (do not lather) through dry hair. Do not add water. Make sure to include the fine hairs along your neck and behind your ears. Leave lindane in your hair for exactly 4 minutes (use a timer or clock). Do not cover your hair with anything (e.g., shower cap, towel). After 4 minutes, add a small amount of warm (not hot) water, rub until a lather forms, then immediately rinse away all lather. Try to keep lindane from touching other parts of your body. Do not re-apply. Dry your hair with a towel, then use the special nit comb or tweezers to remove the nits. It is best to have someone else do this for you to make sure all the nits are removed. They should wear gloves while removing the nits.Close the bottle with any remaining lindane and throw it away out of reach from children and pets. Wash your hands well after treatment.If an infant or young child is prescribed lindane, watch the child carefully while the lindane shampoo is in the hair to make sure the child does not touch the hair then put the hands in the mouth.If you are putting lindane shampoo on someone else, use gloves as directed above. Wash your hands well afterwards.The easiest way to tell if you have lice is to look for small gray-white nits fixed to the hair shafts. Symptoms of lice include an intense itching, mostly on the scalp, but also possibly on the eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, or groin. Itching may continue even after treatment with lindane shampoo. Even if the lindane kills all the lice, the dead lice can still make you itch for a long time after treatment. Ask your doctor about other medications that may be used to soothe the itching.Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens 1-2 weeks after treatment.

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