Head lice products commercially available in Australia fall into four groups on the basis of active ingredient: pyrethrins, synthetic pyrethroids, malathion and herbal agents. The table below lists the products registered or listed with the Therapeutic Goods Administration. There are other products available, but these are not registered or listed. Look for an Aust R or Aust L number; this indicates the official status of the product.
Products commercially available to treat head lice in Australia grouped by active ingredient.
| Active insecticide group | Commercial Product |
Registration number with TGA1 |
| 1. PYRETHRINS |
Amcal Head Lice Foam Banlice Mouse Delva Formula PCT Lyban Foam Meditox Foam Pyrenel Pyrifoam Lotion |
R16519 R46708 R14789 R27816 R13960 R19414 R18200 |
|
2. SYNTHETIC
PYRETHROIDS (bioallethrin, permethrin) |
Orange Medic Orange Medic Plus Paralice Pyrifoam Head Lice Treatment Quellada Creme Rinse Quellada Head Lice Treatment |
R10924 R69377 R20918 R51722 R37003 R45849 |
|
3. ORGANOPHOSPHATES
(maldison or malathion) |
Cleensheen Exolice Medicated Foam HL7 HLT Lice Rid KP24 Lotion KP24 Foam LX Medicated Foam |
R12784 R28756 R28655 R10962 R12783 R18867 R300001 R28756 |
| 4A. COMBINATIONS of herbal/essential oils |
Herbs for Headlice Lice Attack NeutraLice Quit Nits All Natural Head Lice Treatment Sunspirit Aromatherapy Lice Scents to Kill!! Wild Child All Natural Head Lice Treatment |
L68515 L68513 L67693 L66958 L69276 L68790 |
| 4B. COMBINATIONS of herbal/essential oils with natural pyrethrins | Lice Blaster | L63221 |
1 TGA = Therapeutic Goods Administration; R = registered in the Australian register of therapeutic goods; L = listed in the Australian register of therapeutic goods.
If head lice are resistant to one product, look to see what the active ingredient is. Then choose another product from one of the other 3 groups.
Updated by Rick Speare
13 February, 1999