Permethrin

Category: topical

Aliases: Elimite, Nix

Pharmacological Mechanism

Pyrethroid neurotoxin for arthropods — prolongs Na+ channel opening at insect / arachnid synapses → paralysis + death. Topical 1% for head lice, 5% for scabies. Mammalian toxicity is low (Na+ channel selectivity favors insects).

Half-Life (t½)

TD: 24h

Dosing Guidelines

• TD: Typical 30 mg (Range: 5–60 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• integumentary

Pathways It Modulates

• Skin antimicrobial + antiparasitic topicals (activator) — arthropod Na channel — scabies / lice

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 40326
• Formula: C21H20Cl2O3
• Molecular weight: 391.3 g/mol
• InChIKey: RLLPVAHGXHCWKJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES: CC1(C(C1C(=O)OCC2=CC(=CC=C2)OC3=CC=CC=C3)C=C(Cl)Cl)C