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Meds & supplements  ›  Piperonyl butoxide

Medicine

Piperonyl butoxide

​Uses ​ ​Uses treats head lice, pubic (crab) lice, and body lice

Drug FactsLabel updated 2018-07-16

Selected manufacturer label information, organised into consistent sections by Sofidex. Read the full label at DailyMed ↗

Drug facts

Used for
​Uses ​ ​Uses treats head lice, pubic (crab) lice, and body lice
How to take it
  • Important: Read carton for complete warnings and directions before using.
  • Adults and children 2 years and older
  • Apply thoroughly to DRY HAIR or other affected area. For head lice, first apply behind ears and to back of neck.
Do not take if
Do not use near the eyes, inside nose, mouth, vagina, or on lice in eyebrows or eyelashes. See a doctor if lice are present in these areas.

How to take it

  • Important: Read carton for complete warnings and directions before using.
  • Adults and children 2 years and older
  • Apply thoroughly to DRY HAIR or other affected area. For head lice, first apply behind ears and to back of neck.
  • Allow product to remain on hair for 10 minutes, but no longer.
  • Use warm water to form a lather, shampoo, then rinse thoroughly. For head lice, towel dry hair and comb out tangles.
  • A fine-tooth comb or a special lice/nit removing comb must be used to help remove lice, eggs, and nits from hair.
  • A second treatment must be done in 7-10 days to kill any newly hatched lice.
  • Children under 2 years: ask a doctor

While you are taking it

  • When using this product keep eyes tightly closed and protect eyes with a washcloth or towel. Do not open eyes until product is rinsed out of hair. If product gets in eyes, flush with water right away.

Side effects, and when to stop

  • Stop use and consult a doctor if breathing difficulty occurs, eye irritation occurs, skin or scalp irritation continues or infection occurs.

Who should not take it

  • Do not use near the eyes, inside nose, mouth, vagina, or on lice in eyebrows or eyelashes. See a doctor if lice are present in these areas.

What to say before you start

  • Ask a doctor before use if you are allergic to ragweed. May cause breathing difficulty or an asthmatic attack.

Warnings

For external use only

Keeping it away from children

Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Treats

Head, pubic (crab), and body lice.

Cite this page

NLM

sofidex [Internet]. Daloreum; c2026. Piperonyl butoxide; [reviewed 2026 Aug 2; cited 2026 Nov 10]. Available from: https://sofidex.com/patients/medicines/piperonyl-butoxide

APA 7th

sofidex. (2026, August 2). Piperonyl butoxide. Daloreum. Retrieved November 10, 2026, from https://sofidex.com/patients/medicines/piperonyl-butoxide

AMA 11th

Piperonyl butoxide. sofidex. Reviewed August 2, 2026. Accessed November 10, 2026. https://sofidex.com/patients/medicines/piperonyl-butoxide

The cited date is today’s, because a citation records when you read the page. The reviewed date is when a clinician last checked it.