Elimite

Elimite treats scabies. Leave Elimite cream on your skin for 8-14 hours before washing off. This medication may cause temporary skin stinging or burning.

Elimite Overview

Updated: 

Elimite is a prescription medication used to treat scabies otherwise known as mites that attach themselves to the skin. Elimite belongs to a group of drugs called scabicides and pediculicides. These work by killing mites.

This medication comes in a topical cream that is typically applied to the skin only once per treatment.

Common side effects of Elimite include temporary skin burning and/or stinging, itching, and redness.

Elimite can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Elimite affects you.

How was your experience with Elimite?

First, a little about yourself

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What are you taking Elimite for?

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  • Other
  • Lice Infestations
  • Scabies

How long have you been taking it?

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  • Less than a week
  • A couple weeks
  • A month or so
  • A few months
  • A year or so
  • Two years or more

How well did Elimite work for you?

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How likely would you be to recommend Elimite to a friend?

Elimite Cautionary Labels

precautions

Uses of Elimite

Elimite is a prescription medication used to treat Sarcoptesscabiei infection, also known as scabies. Elimite can be used in children as young as 2 months. 

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

Manufacturer

Permethrin

For more information on this medication choose from the list of selections below.

Elimite Drug Class

Elimite is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Elimite

Serious side effects have been reported with Elimite. See the “Elimite Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Elimite include the following:

  • skin burning and/or stinging
  • itching
  • skin redness
  • skin numbness and/or tingling
  • skin rash
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • fever

This is not a complete list of Elimite side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

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

Elimite Interactions

No drug interactions have been reported by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Elimite Precautions

Serious side effects have been reported with Elimite including seizures. Although rare, occurrences of seizures have been reported. Seek medical attention immediately and discontinue use if you have seizures while taking Elimite.

Elimite Cream is for external use only. Elimite cream irritate the eyes. Be sure to avoid contact with eyes during application and to flush with water immediately if Elimite cream gets in your eyes.

Know that itching, mild burning and/or stinging may occur after application of Elimite cream. In clinical trials, some patients continued to experience itching pruritus at 2 weeks and had cessation by 4 weeks. If irritation persists, contact your physician. 

Elimite can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Elimite affects you.

Do not use Elimite if you are allergic to Elimite or to any of its ingredients.

Elimite Food Interactions

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Elimite, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Inform MD

Before using Elimite, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

  • are allergic to Elimite or to any of its ingredients
  • plan to use this medication in a child under 2 months of age
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Elimite and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Elimite falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Elimite. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication. Elimite should only be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. 

Elimite and Lactation

It is not known if Elimite crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Elimite.

Elimite Usage

Use Elimite exactly as prescribed.

This medication comes in topical cream form and is typically applied to the skin one time.

Thoroughly massage Elimite into the skin from the head to the soles of the feet. Usually 30 grams is sufficient for an average adult. 

Scabies rarely infests the scalp of adults, although the hairline, neck, temple, and forehead may be infested in infants and elderly. With this being said, infants should be treated on the scalp, temples, and forehead. 

The cream should be removed by washing (shower or bath) after 8 to 14 hours. 

Typically one application is generally enough to treat scabies. 

You may experience persistent itching after treatment but this is rarely a sign of treatment failure. Therefore, it does not mean you have to be treated again. However if you do see living mites on the skin after 14 days, speak to your doctor as this may indicate that you need to be treated again.

Elimite Dosage

Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The recommended dose of Elimite for the treatment of scabies is a one-time application of Elimite cream to the skin from the head to the soles of the feet.

Elimite Overdose

If you use too much Elimite, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Other Requirements

  • Store at 20-25°C (68-77°F).
  • Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.
  • For external use only.
  • Do not use in eyes.