Last update Oct. 2, 2023

Lindane

High Risk

Poorly safe. Evaluate carefully. Use safer alternative or interrupt breastfeeding 3 to 7 T ½ (elimination half-lives). Read the Comment.

Lindane is a chlorinated insecticide used as an ectoparasiticide and ovicide in the treatment of scabies, Pediculosis humanis capitis (lice) and Phthirus pubis (crab lice). Dermatological topical application.

It is very fat soluble, is very well absorbed through the skin and is commonly found in food and breast milk.

Application of a 0.3% lindane lotion to the entire skin of a nursing mother for 24 hours raised lindane levels in milk 20 to 70 times baseline levels in the following days. (Senger 1989).

May behave as an endocrine disruptor, as it has estrogenic activity. (Massart 2005)

During breastfeeding safer alternatives are preferable. (Workowski 2021, Thomas 2020, Butler 2014)

It is considered a persistent environmental contaminant. Topical medications containing lindane have been withdrawn from the market in many countries. (Schaefer, 2015).


See below the information of this related product:

  • Scabies ( Safe. Compatible. Minimal risk for breastfeeding and infant.)

Alternatives

  • Dimeticone; Dimethicone ( Safe. Compatible. Minimal risk for breastfeeding and infant.)
  • Ivermectin ( Safe. Compatible. Minimal risk for breastfeeding and infant.)
  • Permethrin ( Safe. Compatible. Minimal risk for breastfeeding and infant.)
  • Pyrethrin ( Safe. Compatible. Minimal risk for breastfeeding and infant.)

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

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Other names

Lindane is also known as


Lindane in other languages or writings:

Group

Lindane belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Lindane in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. 90 %
Molecular weight 290 daltons
Protein Binding 91 %
Tmax 6 hours
T½ 18 - 21 hours

References

  1. Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, Johnston CM, Muzny CA, Park I, Reno H, Zenilman JM, Bolan GA. Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021 Jul 23;70(4):1-187. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  2. Thomas C, Coates SJ, Engelman D, Chosidow O, Chang AY. Ectoparasites: Scabies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Mar;82(3):533-548. Abstract
  3. Butler DC, Heller MM, Murase JE. Safety of dermatologic medications in pregnancy and lactation: Part II. Lactation. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Mar;70(3):417.e1-10; quiz 427. Abstract
  4. Massart F, Harrell JC, Federico G, Saggese G. Human breast milk and xenoestrogen exposure: a possible impact on human health. J Perinatol. 2005 Apr;25(4):282-8. Review. Abstract
  5. Porto I. Antiparasitic drugs and lactation: focus on anthelmintics, scabicides, and pediculicides. J Hum Lact. 2003 Abstract
  6. Senger E, Menzel I, Holzmann H. [Therapy-induced lindane concentration in breast milk]. Derm Beruf Umwelt. 1989 Sep-Oct;37(5):167-70. German. Abstract

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