Lindane

Lindane is a prescription medication used to remove lice (tiny bugs that can attach to the skin on the head or the pubic area) and to treat scabies (a skin condition in which tiny bugs crawl under the skin, lay eggs, and cause severe itching).

This medication comes in the form of a shampoo and a lotion. The shampoo is used to remove lice, and the lotion is used to treat scabies.

Lindane Shampoo is a prescription medication used to remove lice. Lindane Lotion is a prescription medication used to treat scabies. Both products are usually only used in adults and children who weigh at least 110 pounds, after safer medications have not made the lice or scabies go away.

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

WARNINGS

Lindane Lotion and Lindane Shampoo should only be used in patients who cannot tolerate or have failed first-line treatment with safer medications for the treatment of scabies.

Neurologic Toxicity

Seizures and deaths have been reported following Lindane Lotion or Lindane Shampoo use with repeat or prolonged application, but also in rare cases following a single application used according to directions. Lindane Lotion should be used with caution for infants, children, the elderly, and individuals with other skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, psoriasis) and in those who weigh < 110 lbs (50 kg) as they may be at risk of serious neurotoxicity.

Contraindications

Lindane Lotion and Lindane Shampoo is contraindicated in premature infants and individuals with known uncontrolled seizure disorders.

Proper Use

Instruct patients on the proper use of Lindane Lotion and Lindane Shampoo, the amount to apply, how long to leave it on, and avoiding retreatment. Inform patients that itching occurs after the successful killing of scabies and is not necessarily an indication for retreatment with Lindane Lotion and Lindane Shampoo.

Lindane Shampoo and Lindane Lotion are poisons if you do not use them in the right way. Lindane Shampoo and Lindane Lotion go through your skin and can affect your brain and nerves. These medicines can cause seizures, also called convulsions, "fits" or epilepsy.

• Seizures and death can happen in people who use Lindane Shampoo or Lotion too much or too often.
• Seizures can happen in some people even if they use Lindane Shampoo  and Lindane Lotion exactly as directed.

If you or a family member has a seizure while using Lindane Shampoo or Lindane Lotion, get emergency help right away.

Do not use Lindane Shampoo unless:

• You have lice and another medicine did not work for you, or
• You cannot use other, safer medicines to treat your lice
• Do not use Lindane Shampoo more than 1 time to treat an attack of lice. Do not use Lindane Shampoo to treat a second attack that comes soon after the first episode. No one knows a safe time to reuse Lindane Shampoo. Even if you still itch even after using Lindane Shampoo, do not use more or use it again. Lice (bugs) can make you itch for some time even after all of the bugs are dead.
• Do not use more Lindane Shampoo than your doctor tells you.
• Do not keep Lindane Shampoo on your hair for more than 4 minutes.
• Do not put Lindane Shampoo in your mouth because it is a poison if taken by mouth. If you get Lindane Shampoo in your mouth or swallow Lindane Shampoo, call your area Poison Control Center right away and get emergency help.

Do not use Lindane Shampoo:

• if you do not have lice. Lindane Shampoo does not stop you from getting lice. Lindane Shampoo only kills the lice you already have.
• if you have or have ever had seizures, also called convulsions, "fits" or epilepsy, especially if they have been hard to control.
• if you have used Lindane Shampoo in the past few months. You should see your doctor if you think that you need another treatment.
• unless it is the only medicine you can use for lice.
• if you had a bad reaction to Lindane Shampoo before. Do not use Lindane Shampoo again.
• if you have open sores or crusted (scabby) sores on the skin around your head and neck, or lots of broken skin.
• if you need to treat a premature or young baby. More of the applied Lindane can go through the skin of babies and go to their brains where it can harm them.
• if you have scabies. These need a different medicine that you use in a different way.
• if you are allergic to Lindane Shampoo or any of its ingredients. The active ingredient is lindane.
• while you are breastfeeding. Lindane Shampoo can get in your milk and may be fed to your baby. Your baby may get sick. Ask your doctor for a safer medicine. If you use Lindane Shampoo, pump your breast milk and throw the milk away for at least 24 hours after using the medicine. During this time, feed your baby formula or breast milk that you stored from before you used Lindane Shampoo.

Do not use Lindane Lotion unless:

• You have scabies and were treated with another medicine that did not work for you, or
• You cannot use other safer medicines to treat your scabies.

• Do not use Lindane Lotion more than 1 time to treat an attack of scabies. Do not use Lindane Lotion to treat a second attack of scabies that comes soon after the first episode. Using it more than 1 time can cause seizures and death. No one knows a safe time to reuse Lindane Lotion. Even if you still itch after using Lindane Lotion, do not use more or use it again. Scabies (mites) can make your skin itch for a few weeks even after all of the bugs (mites) are dead.
• Do not use more Lindane Lotion than your doctor tells you.
• Do not keep Lindane Lotion on your skin for more than 8 to 12 hours.
• Do not put Lindane Lotion in your mouth because it is a poison if taken by mouth. If you get Lindane Lotion in your mouth or swallow Lindane Lotion, call your area Poison Control Center right away and get emergency help.

Do not use Lindane Lotion:

• if you do not have scabies. Lindane Lotion does not stop you from getting scabies. Lindane Lotion only kills the scabies you already have.
• if you have or have ever had seizures, also called convulsions, "fits" or epilepsy, especially if they have been hard to control.
• if you used Lindane Lotion in the past few months. You should see your doctor if you think you need another treatment.
• unless it is the only medicine you can use for scabies.
• if you had a bad reaction to Lindane Lotion before. Do not use Lindane Lotion again.
• if you have open sores or crusted (scabby) sores on your skin, or lots of broken skin.
• if you have head or body lice. These need a different medicine that you use in a different way.
• if you are allergic to Lindane Lotion or any of its ingredients. The active ingredient is lindane. 
• if you need to treat a premature or young baby. More lindane can go through the skin of babies and go to their brains where it can harm them.
• while you are breastfeeding. Lindane Lotion can get in your milk and be fed to your baby. Lindane Lotion on your skin can also go to your baby. Your baby may get sick. Ask your doctor for a safer medicine. If you use Lindane Lotion, pump your breast milk and throw away the milk for at least 24 hours after using the medicine. During this time, feed your baby formula or breast milk you stored from before you used Lindane Lotion.

Lindane Shampoo and Lindane Lotion may cause serious side effects such as seizures (convulsions, fits) or death. See "Drug Precautions" section.

These medicines can also make you feel sleepy, dizzy, or can cause body shaking that you cannot control.

The most common side effects of Lindane Shampoo and Lindane Lotion are:

• Itching skin
• Burning skin
• Dry skin
• A skin rash

These are not all of the possible side effects of Lindane Shampoo and Lindane Lotion. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may increase your chances of having a seizure if you take them while using Lindane. Especially tell your doctor if you take medicines called sedatives (drugs to help you sleep).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Lindane Shampoo and Lindane Lotion can reach your baby and may harm it. Ask your doctor for a safer medicine. Use Lindane Shampoo or Lindane Lotion only if needed.

Do not use Lindane Shampoo or Lindane Lotion while you are breastfeeding. These medicines can get in your milk and be fed to your baby. Lindane Lotion on your skin can also go to your baby. Your baby may get sick. Ask your doctor for a safer medicine. If you use Lindane Shampoo or Lindane Lotion, pump your breast milk and throw away the milk for at least 24 hours after using the medicine. During this time, feed your baby formula or breast milk you stored from before you used Lindane Lotion.