Active ingredient: Benzyl Benzoate - Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data

Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data

Drug Category

• Insecticides
• Acaricides

Dosage Forms

• Gel
• Lotion
• Solution

Brands / Synonyms

Ascabin; Ascabiol; Benylate; Benzoic acid benzyl ester; Benzoic acid, benzyl ester; Benzoic acid, phenylmethyl ester; Benzyl alcohol benzoic ester; Benzyl benzenecarboxylate; Benzyl benzoate 99+ %; Benzyl ester; Benzyl phenylformate; Benzylester kyseliny benzoove; Benzylets; Colebenz; Novoscabin; Peruscabin; Scabagen; Scabanca; Scabide; Scabiozon; Scabitox; Scobenol; Vanzoate; Venzoate; Venzonate

Indications

Used to kill lice and the mites responsible for the skin condition scabies.

Pharmacology

Benzyl benzoate is one of the older preparations used to treat scabies. Scabies is a skin infection caused by the mite sarcoptes scabiei. It is characterised by severe itching (particularly at night), red spots, and may lead to a secondary infection. Benzyl benzoate is lethal to this mite and so is useful in the treatment of scabies. It is also used to treat lice infestation of the head and body. Benzyl benzoate is not the treatment of choice for scabies due to its irritant properties.

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism behind benzyl benzoate's actions is not known. However, in light of the its effects on vertebrates, it is presumed that benzyl benzoate may act on the nervous system of the parasite, resulting in its death. In vitro, benzyl benzoate has been found to kill the Sarcoptes mite within 5 minutes.

Absorption

No data are available on percutaneous absorption of benzyl benzoate. Some older studies have suggested some percutaneous absorption, however the amount was not quantified.

Toxicity

Oral, rabbit: LD₅₀ = 1680 mg/kg; Skin, rabbit: LD₅₀ = 4000 mg/kg. Symptoms of overdose include blister formation, crusting, itching, oozing, reddening, or scaling of skin; difficulty in urinating (dribbling); jerking movements; sudden loss of consciousness.

Biotrnasformation / Drug Metabolism

Rapidly hydrolyzed to benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol, which is further oxidized to benzoic acid. The benzoic acid is conjugated with glycine to form hippuric acid.

Contraindications

Not Available

Drug Interactions

Not Available