Acticin

Acticin is used for the treatment of head lice infection and scabies infection of skin.

1% solution of this drug is effective against lice as well as their eggs while 5% solution is used for treatment of scabies.

It is available in the form of lotion, spray, cream and liquid.

Your doctor will inform you of what you need to know before using Acticin. The patient is the authoritative figure when it comes to any medical procedure or any drug therapy. It is important for the patient to know all the details about the drug and then start using it.

Doctor also has a duty to bring out answers from the patient which play an important role in treatment like history, any allergy or any medical condition the patient has.

For this purpose, it is important to have a detailed session between the patient and the physician before starting this drug to sort out all the details.

Detailed history of a patient is extremely important prior to any medical therapy and in this case, it is more likely that a drug be started after it. Allergies or any history of allergy to any drug, food, preservatives, dyes or animal products; history of drug usage, past medical or surgical procedure should also be kept in record to predict any drug interaction.

Physical examination should be done before starting this drug so that any physiological or pathological condition with which this drug may interfere may be ruled out.

Age specific analysis is vital to have information about side effects in different age groups. There are not enough studies done in older patients while in children, it has been found to be quite effective. It poses minimal risks for use in breastfeeding women.

Drug interactions are the effects on the therapy or the condition for which the drug is used by other drugs used concomitantly. It is necessary that no drug be started without consulting a physician as other drugs may cause alteration in the effect of this drug or its removal from the body. Patient should also be counselled about effects of several types of food, alcohol and tobacco on the patient as these may cause severe interactions.

Medical conditions, other than the condition for which this drug is used, may also affect working of the drug and cause harm. It is important for the patient to give detailed history, and important for the doctor to derive such details from the patient to avoid such circumstances. The condition which may interact with this drug is severe inflammation of scalp which will be worsened by use of permethrin.

Acticin is a non-prescription drug which is easily available.

For the treatment of lice, the drug comes in a container for one time use only and left over solution should be discarded. Clean the hair before application of this drug by using a shampoo and rinse well.

Apply permethrin solution on wet hair and rinse well after 5 minutes. Use a fine toothed comb to remove the remaining eggs and their shells. Cover eyes and ears during the application of this drug to avoid any contact.

For treatment of scabies, clean the skin thoroughly and massage the cream into the skin from head to soles. Leave it on for 8 to 14 hours and then clean it off by taking a shower or by using wet towels. 

In using Acticin, you must be careful and take some precautions as advised by your doctor. Precautions are the part and parcel of any treatment and patient must adhere to these to improve the outcome.

It is the duty of the doctor or any medical care provider to make the patient aware about these tips as an aid to the therapy.

• Regular checkup is necessary to look for the progress of the treatment.
• Treatment of the rest of the family members is essential for complete eradication of lice or scabies infection.
• Machine wash all the clothes of family members in hot water.
• Avoid contact with clothes, towels or belongings of the affected person to prevent transmission.
• Clean the house thoroughly by vacuuming. Fumigation can also be done to provide a much cleaner environment.
• Wash all toys of the affected children or unaffected family members in hot water.
• Storage of the drug should be in a clean, dry environment. Keep it away from the reach of children.

As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Acticin. There is no drug in the world which is without its unwanted effects. Some drugs are relatively safe for use while for some drugs, the patient should be cautious as these drugs may cause more harm than good.

Patient should always get medical help in case of any adverse effect, no matter how trivial it is. Due to topical application, drug surpasses many systemic effects.

Some side effects resulted by this drug include:

• Itching or burning sensation on eye due to contact
• Allergic reaction on area of skin where drug is applied
• Redness and swelling of skin