Permethrin

Mechanism-of-action classes: Chloride Channel Antagonists; Enzyme Inhibitors.

• Use treats head liceICD-10: B85.0

Directions Inspect • all household members should be checked by another person for lice and/or nits (eggs) • use a magnifying glass in bright light to help you see the lice and nits (eggs) • use a tool, such as a comb or two unsharpened pencils to lift and part the hair • look for tiny nits near the scalp, beginning at the back of the neck and behind the ears • small sections of hair (1-2 inches wide) should be examined at a time • unlike dandruff, nits stick to the hair. Dandruff should move when lightly touched. • if either lice or nits (eggs) are found, treat with the creme rinse Treat • wash hair with a shampoo without conditioner. Do not use a shampoo that contains a conditioner or a conditioner alone since this may decrease the activity of the creme rinse. Rinse with water. • towel dry hair so it is damp but not wet • shake the bottle well • completely saturate the hair and scalp with the creme rinse. Begin to apply the creme rinse behind the ears and at the back of the neck. • keep the creme rinse out of the eyes. Protect the eyes with a washcloth or towel. • leave the creme rinse on the hair for 10 minutes, but no longer • rinse with warm water • towel dry hair and comb out tangles • if live lice are seen seven days or more after the first treatment, a second treatment should be given Remove Lice/Nits • remove nits by combing the hair with the special small tooth comb provided. Remaining nits may be removed by hand (using a throw-away glove), or cutting the nits out.

For external use only Do not use • on children under 2 months of age • near the eyes • inside the nose, ear, mouth, or vagina • on lice in eyebrows or eyelashes. See your doctor. Ask a doctor before use if you are • allergic to ragweed. May cause breathing difficulty or an asthmatic episode. When using this product • keep eyes tightly closed and protect eyes with a washcloth or towel • if product gets into the eyes, immediately flush with large amounts of water • scalp itching or redness may occur Stop use and see a doctor if • breathing difficulty occurs • eye irritation occurs • skin or scalp irritation continues or infection occurs If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away. (1-800-222-1222)

• Aug 25, 1989NDANDA019855Aurobindo Pharma Usa
• May 2, 1990NDANDA019918Medtech Products
• Jan 23, 1998ANDAANDA074806Actavis Labs
• Dec 20, 2001ANDAANDA076090Perrigo New York
• Apr 21, 2003ANDAANDA076369Padagis Israel
• Apr 3, 2019ANDAANDA211303Encube Ethicals

1. 1Drug Ineffective34920%
2. 2Pruritus1418.2%
3. 3Off Label Use1106.4%
4. 4Pain925.3%
5. 5Rash794.6%
6. 6Nausea764.4%
7. 7Headache754.4%
8. 8Dry Skin714.1%
9. 9Alopecia694.0%
10. 10Anxiety694.0%
11. 11Chronic Kidney Disease673.9%
12. 12Diarrhoea543.1%
13. 13Fatigue533.1%
14. 14Inappropriate Schedule Of Product Administration523.0%
15. 15Product Use In Unapproved Indication502.9%

Recent PubMed references pinned to Permethrin as a MeSH major topic. Citations link to pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

• Optimising treatment options in scabies.
  Drug and therapeutics bulletin · 2026
  PMID 42209017DOI 10.1136/dtb.2026.000021
• Early postnatal exposure to permethrin and deltamethrin mixtures induces sex-specific hippocampal neurobehavioral and neurochemical alterations in adulthood.
  Neurotoxicology · 2026 · Ben Slimene S, Boukholda K, Ammar R, et al.
  PMID 42173172DOI 10.1016/j.neuro.2026.103468
• Combined Oral Ivermectin and 5% Permethrin Cream to Treat Severe Scabies.
  The New England journal of medicine · 2026 · Bernigaud C, Do-Pham G, Guichard E, et al.
  PMID 42090793DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2411721
• Behavioral and neurophysiological evaluation of pyrethroid effects on honey bee olfactory perception and learning.
  Ecotoxicology and environmental safety · 2026 · Colin-Duchevet L, Couto A, Charnet P, et al.
  PMID 42090758DOI 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120198
• Comparative effectiveness of permethrin and ivermectin on pruritus and psychological outcomes in scabies: a prospective cohort of 600 adults.
  Postgraduate medicine · 2026 · Esen M, Demirbas A, Diremsizoglu E, et al.
  PMID 41808596DOI 10.1080/00325481.2026.2643021
• Gene × environment interaction between latrophilin-3 (Lphn3 or Adgrl3) and developmental permethrin exposure in Sprague Dawley rats.
  Neurotoxicology and teratology · 2026 · Vorhees CV, Fritz AL, Gollaway BM, et al.
  PMID 41722825DOI 10.1016/j.ntt.2026.107587
• Effect of permethrin insecticide on TRβ-mediated cone photoreceptor differentiation and spectral sensitivity in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio).
  Environmental research · 2026 · Wen S, Qiu L, Wen C, et al.
  PMID 41620064DOI 10.1016/j.envres.2026.123918
• Molecular evidence of knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in the head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) collected from disadvantaged children in Klang Valley, Malaysia.
  Tropical biomedicine · 2025 · Mokhtar AS, Norza NAH, Zahanuddin A, et al.
  PMID 41619243DOI 10.47665/tb.42.4.009

The 10 most recently updated of 64 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations naming Permethrin as an intervention. Registration is not evidence of efficacy or safety — reference crosswalk only.

• Bortezomib and Pembrolizumab With or Without Pelareorep for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma, AMBUSH Trial
  Active not recruiting · Phase 1 · Phase 2 · Interventional · 10 enrolled · University of Southern California
  NCT05514990updated 2026-05-13
• Comparison of Permethrin-Based Treatment Strategies Against Scabies in Infants and Young Children
  Not yet recruiting · Early phase 1 · Interventional · 68 enrolled · College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan
  NCT07247630updated 2026-02-03
• Ivermectin Safety in Small Children
  Completed · Phase 2 · Interventional · 240 enrolled · University of Oxford
  NCT04332068updated 2025-12-18
• Better Options for Lymphatic Filariasis Treatment
  Not yet recruiting · Phase 3 · Interventional · 5,100 enrolled · Medicines Development for Global Health
  NCT07159373updated 2025-09-08
• A Phase 3 Trial Assessing Safety and Efficacy of B-Pa-L in Participants With DR-TB
  Completed · Phase 3 · Interventional · 109 enrolled · Global Alliance for TB Drug Development
  NCT02333799updated 2025-09-08
• Permethrin-treated Baby-wraps for the Prevention of Malaria in Children
  Completed · Interventional · 400 enrolled · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  NCT05391230updated 2025-07-14
• Repellents as Added Control Measure to Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets
  Completed · Interventional · 40,000 enrolled · Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium
  NCT01663831updated 2025-05-11
• Comparison of Permethrin and Ivermectin in Children Greater Than 6 Yrs Age for Treatment of Scabies
  Not yet recruiting · Phase 2 · Interventional · 90 enrolled · Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore
  NCT06896929updated 2025-04-20
• A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of a Leave-in Spray in Subjects With Head Lice Infestation
  Completed · Phase 4 · Interventional · 58 enrolled · Alliance Pharmaceuticals
  NCT05565820updated 2025-02-24
• Efficacy of Three Novel Bi-treated Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets
  Completed · Interventional · 4,200 enrolled · London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
  NCT03554616updated 2024-11-26

Frequently asked questions

How does Permethrin work?

Mechanism-of-action classes: Chloride Channel Antagonists; Enzyme Inhibitors.

What is Permethrin used for?

According to FDA labeling, Permethrin carries indications including: Use treats head lice. This is a reference summary of labeled uses, not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.

What class of drug is Permethrin?

Permethrin is classified as Pyrethrines, incl. synthetic compounds, Pyrethroid, Chloride Channel Antagonists, Enzyme Inhibitors, Decreased Striated Muscle Organized Electrical Activity.

What are the brand names for Permethrin?

Permethrin is marketed under brand names including Acticin, Elimite, Nix Cream Rinse.