 Applying benzyl alcohol
Dear Patient,
Your health care provider has prescribed benzyl alcohol for the treatment of your head lice. This drug, which comes in lotion form, kills lice by interfering with their breathing.
How you'll apply benzyl alcohol
Cover your face with a towel and keep your eyes tightly closed. Apply the lotion to your dry hair. The amount of lotion used depends on your hair length. Use this chart as a guide:
| Hair length (inches) |
Lotion amount per treatment (oz) |
| 0 to 2 |
4 to 6 |
| 2 to 4 |
6 to 8 |
| 4 to 8 |
8 to 12 |
| 8 to 16 |
12 to 24 |
| 16 to 22 |
24 to 32 |
| Longer than 22 |
32 to 48 |
Make sure the lotion covers your entire scalp and scalp hair, including behind your ears. Massage it into your hair and scalp. Dripping will occur when your head is completely covered, so protect your eyes and skin. Allow the lotion to remain on your hair for 10 minutes, and then thoroughly rinse your hair with water. Comb your hair with a fine-tooth comb or special nit comb to remove dead lice and nits (lice eggs). Repeat treatment after 7 days.
What to do if you miss a dose
If you miss your second dose, notify your health care provider.
What to do about side effects
Notify your health care provider if you experience side effects to this medication.
Common: itching, redness.
Less common: irritation.
What you must know about other medications
Tell any health care provider who takes care of you that you're using this drug.
Special directions
- Notify your health care provider if you have any skin conditions or sensitivities.
- Use the drug exactly as prescribed; don't change your treatment without consulting your health care provider.
- Don't let the drug get into your eyes; if the drug does get into your eyes, flush them with water immediately.
- Wash your hands after applying the drug.
- Store the drug in a dry place at room temperature.
- Wash (in hot water) or dry-clean all recently worn clothing and hats and recently used bedding and towels.
- Wash personal care items, such as brushes, combs, and hair clips, in hot water.
Keep in mind
- It isn't known whether this drug affects an unborn baby. Notify your health care provider if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- It isn't known how this drug could affect a nursing baby; because of the risk of adverse affects, another method of feeding the baby should be used.
- Children need adult help to apply the lotion.
- Rinse your skin or eyes with water if irritation occurs, and then notify your health care provider or go to the emergency department.
For institutions
to distribute multiple copies of this document, a
licensing agreement is required from the publisher.
|
