Congressman Bugs Out Over Lice Medication (Pharmalot blog)
“In a move that casts a spotlight on a little-known controversy, a Massachusetts congressman has asked the FDA to halt the use of an insecticide in pharmaceutical treatments for head lice in children,” blogger Ed Silverman writes. The active ingredient, lindane, is an active ingredient in shampoos approved by the FDA to treat lice and scabies. However, lindane is a neurotoxin that affects can affect the liver and kidney, and children and infants — an age group with a high risk of catching lice — can be more susceptible to potential adverse effects than adults