benzyl alcohol topical (Ulesfia)

Indications

• treatment of head lice in patients 6 months of age & older

Contraindications

• infants < 6 months of age

Dosage

• two treatments 1 week apart, leave in hair 10 minutes (75% effective)

Lotion: 5%

Adverse effects

• irritations of the skin, scalp, & eyes
• numbness at the site of application
• use in premature infants may lead to serious respiratory, heart- or brain-related adverse events including seizures, coma, or death

Mechanism of action

• suffocates lice, does not paralyze them

Notes

• cost about $30/bottle, compared to $10 for Nix
• a bottle of Ulesfia only covers up to 4 inches of hair
• really long hair can take up to 6 bottles
• Nix takes only 1 to 2 bottles per use

More general terms

• benzyl alcohol
• antiparasitic topical