Spinosad

Spinosad is used to treat head lice, tiny insects that infest and irritate your scalp. Head lice lay small white eggs (nits) at the roots of hair close to the scalp, especially on the hairline at the back of the neck and behind the ears. Spinosad works by paralyzing and killing lice and their eggs. Spinosad should not be used on infants younger than 6 months due to the increased risk for serious side effects.

Spinosad is available under the following different brand names: Natrona.

Dosages of Spinosad

• Suspension, Topical, Adult, and Pediatric - 0.9%

Dosage Considerations - Should Be Given as Follows

• To treat lice in adults: Apply suspension to dry scalp and hair using only the amount needed to cover the scalp and hair, after 10 minutes, rinse off with warm water.
• To treat lice in children 6 months of age and older: Apply suspension to dry scalp and hair using only the amount needed to cover the scalp and hair, after 10 minutes, rinse off with warm water.
• May repeat if live lice are seen 7 days after the first treatment in adults and children 6 months and older.
• Children under 6 months of age: do not use.

Administration

• Does not require combing and nit removal
• For topical use only
• Shake bottle well before application

Common side effects of spinosad include:

• Application site redness
• Eye redness
• Eye irritation
• Application site irritation

Less common side effects of spinosad include:

• Application site dryness
• Application site exfoliation
• Hair loss
• Dry skin

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Spinosad has no known severe, serious, moderate, or mild interactions with other drugs.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings

• This medication contains Spinosad. Do not take Natroba if you are allergic to spinosad or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• No information is available.

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information is available.

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Spinosad?"

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Spinosad?"

Cautions

• Contains benzyl alcohol; toxicity and deaths reported in neonates and infants below the age of 6 months with systemic exposure to benzyl alcohol (i.e., neonatal gasping syndrome).

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Spinosad may be acceptable for use during pregnancy. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies are not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies were done and showed no risk.
• Spinosad is not distributed in breast milk; however, caution is advised because the benzyl alcohol component may be systemically absorbed; lactating women may choose to pump and discard breast milk for 8 hours (5 half-lives of benzyl alcohol) following application.