Crotamiton is a drug that is used both as a scabicidal (for treating scabies

Scabies

Scabies , known colloquially as the seven-year itch, is a contagious skin infection that occurs among humans and other animals. It is caused by a tiny and usually not directly visible parasite, the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrows under the host's skin, causing intense allergic itching...

) and as a general antipruritic

Antipruritic

Antipruritics, also known as anti-itch drugs, are medications that inhibit the itching that is often associated with sunburns, allergic reactions, eczema, psoriasis, chickenpox, fungal infections, insect bites and stings like those from mosquitoes, fleas, and mites, and contact dermatitis and...

 (anti-itching drug). It is a prescription and OTC

Over-the-counter drug

Over-the-counter drugs are medicines that may be sold directly to a consumer without a prescription from a healthcare professional, as compared to prescription drugs, which may be sold only to consumers possessing a valid prescription...

 lotion based medicine that is applied to the whole body to get rid of the scabies parasite that burrows under the skin

Skin

-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...

 and causes itching.

Use

For treating scabies, crotamiton should be applied to the whole body rather than a localized area. It is applied 2 to 3 times, with a 24 hour delay in between applications, and the patient is asked to take a shower

Shower

A shower is an area in which one bathes underneath a spray of water.- History :...

 no sooner than after 48 hours. For children under 3 years it is applied once daily. Crotamiton can also be used to treat itching stemming from other causes, e.g. insect bites, in which case it is applied to the itching areas only, and repeated if necessary after 4 to 8 hours. Use near the eyes, or breaks in the skin, should be avoided.

Pharmacology

The mechanism of action of crotamiton is unknown, but it is toxic to the scabies mite.

Pharmacokinetics

After topical application, crotamiton is absorbed systemically. It has an elimination half-life of 30.9 hours and 4.8-8.8% is excreted in the urine.

Side effects

The most common side effect

Adverse effect

In medicine, an adverse effect is a harmful and undesired effect resulting from a medication or other intervention such as surgery.An adverse effect may be termed a "side effect", when judged to be secondary to a main or therapeutic effect. If it results from an unsuitable or incorrect dosage or...

 of crotamiton is skin irritation

Irritation

Irritation or exacerbation, in biology and physiology, is a state of inflammation or painful reaction to allergy or cell-lining damage. A stimulus or agent which induces the state of irritation is an irritant...

.

Trade name

Crotamiton is marketed under the trade name

Trade name

A trade name, also known as a trading name or a business name, is the name which a business trades under for commercial purposes, although its registered, legal name, used for contracts and other formal situations, may be another....

s Eurax, which is manufactured by Novartis in the UK, and Euracin, which is manufactured by Green Cross in South Korea.