PHI Pharmacy has stopped distributing prescription-only Lindane Lotion lice treatment even before the Food & Drug Administration cited the toxic risk of the popular drug.
According to PHI pharmacist Dr. Theodore “Ted” R. Parker, PHI pharmacies have stopped selling them in 2004 as they had become hazardous material and it was getting expensive to ship.
“It just got to the point where getting them to Hawaii had become a major chore so we just stopped carrying it,” Parker said.
The FDA had issued a public health advisory in 2003 against the insecticide-based treatment for head lice.
The Lindane Lotion and Shampoo marketing had allegedly misled consumers by downplaying the rare, but serious, risks of the treatments.
In 2003, the FDA required Lindane products to carry a warning that hospitalizations, seizures and deaths have been reported after the use of the two products.
The warning label also cites "lindane toxicity, verified by autopsy" in two deaths: an infant and an adult who used the product to commit suicide.
California had banned the prescription of Lindane since 2002. Lawmakers in at least three states are considering restricting the use of treatments for head lice and body mites that contain the insecticide lindane.
Other over-the-counter medications such as RID and Nix are still available at the PHI Pharmacy.
Treatments such as RID and Nix are made of natural extracts from the chrysanthemum flower. They are reportedly safe and effective provided that instructions are followed as directed.
Home | Weather | Advertising | Classifieds | Subscription | Contact
Us | About Us | Archives
©2006 Saipan Tribune. All Rights Reserved
