Topical antipruritic / scabicide Pregnancy: Not recommended during pregnancy, especially in the first three months (no controlled studies in human pregnancy). Mothers should not use it while breastfeeding unless directed by a physician, and it should not be applied to the nipple area. No fertility data.

Crotamiton

Brand names: Eurax

Crotamiton is a topical agent used to relieve pruritus and as an adjunct in the management of scabies.

Auto-extracted from the source labelling — not yet independently clinician-verified. These values were distilled from the UK SPC (or the US label where noted) but have not had a clinician sign-off. Confirm against the current SmPC before prescribing.

Adult dose

Dose: Pruritus: apply cream to the affected area

Route: Cutaneous (topical); for external use only

Frequency: 2-3 times daily

UK SPC (Eurax / Eurax Itch Relief Cream). Pruritus: each application provides relief from irritation for 6 to 10 hours; no special dosage recommendations in the elderly. SCABIES (adults, including the elderly): after a warm bath the skin should be well dried and the cream rubbed into the entire body surface (excluding the face and scalp) until no traces remain visible; repeat once daily, preferably in the evening, for a total of 3-5 days. Pay special attention to sites susceptible to mite infestation (interdigital spaces, wrists, axillae, genitalia); areas with pus formation should be covered with a dressing impregnated with the cream. A bath may be taken shortly before the next application; after completing treatment take a cleansing bath and change bed linen and underclothing. PAEDIATRIC (both indications): can be used in children, but for children under three years of age use should only be under medical supervision (for scabies, consult a doctor before use) and it should not be applied more than once a day — no per-kg dose is stated. Should only be used in pregnancy, breastfeeding or for genital itching under medical supervision.

Dose auto-extracted from UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) via the eMC; US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed) — cross-check; US labelling may differ from UK — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Contraindications

Acute exudative dermatoses
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients

Side effects

Pruritus (most commonly reported reaction during treatment)
Contact dermatitis (rare)
Hypersensitivity reactions — rash, eczema (rare)
Erythema, skin irritation (rare)
Angioedema (rare); discontinue treatment if severe irritation occurs

Interactions

No interaction studies have been performed

Clinical monograph

How it works

It has antipruritic and reputed scabicidal properties, though the precise mechanism by which it relieves itch and acts on the mite is not fully established.

Prescribing in practice

For external use only; avoid application to acutely inflamed or broken skin, near the eyes and on mucous membranes.
It is generally regarded as a less effective scabicide than first-line treatments and is often used mainly for symptomatic itch relief.
Itch may persist for a period after successful scabies eradication, which does not by itself indicate treatment failure.

Monitoring

Monitoring is clinical, based on relief of itching and any local skin irritation.

Counselling the patient

Apply to intact skin and avoid contact with the eyes, mouth and broken areas.
Itching can continue for some time after scabies has been treated and does not necessarily mean the treatment has failed.
Stop and seek advice if a rash or marked irritation develops.

Evidence & guidelines

Crotamiton is recognised in current prescribing references as an antipruritic and adjunctive scabies treatment rather than a first-line scabicide.

Reference: Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Pathways