OpenClaim

Permethrin Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects of permethrin include pruritus, off label use, and pain, based on 1,870 FDA adverse event reports from 2004 to 2025. 21.1% of reports found the drug to be ineffective.

Permethrin side effects

Percentages show how often each reaction appears relative to total reports for permethrin.

1
Drug Ineffective21.1%395
2
Pruritus7.8%145
3
Off Label Use6.3%117
4
Pain4.7%88
5
Rash4.3%80
6
Dry Skin3.8%71
7
Chronic Kidney Disease3.7%69
8
Nausea3.5%65
9
Alopecia3.5%65
10
Headache3.3%62
11
Anxiety3.3%62
12
Product Use In Unapproved Indication2.8%52
13
Emotional Distress2.7%51
14
Erythema2.7%51
15
Inappropriate Schedule Of Product Administration2.7%51

These are voluntary reports and do not establish that permethrin caused these reactions.

Report severity

44.7%Serious836 reports
13.2%Hospitalizations247 reports
3.9%Fatal72 reports

Seriousness is determined by the reporter, not by OpenClaim.

Permethrin drug interactions

Other drugs that appear in adverse event reports alongside permethrin. Drugs flagged as a suspected cause appear in the first column. Drugs taken at the same time but not suspected appear in the second.

Also suspected

1
Dupilumab3.8%71
2
Ivermectin3.3%61
3
Omeprazole2.7%50
4
Esomeprazole2.5%46
5
Pantoprazole-sodium2.5%46
6
Methotrexate2.4%45
7
Tenofovir2.2%42
8
Emtricitabine2.1%39
9
Adalimumab1.7%32
10
Lansoprazole1.6%29
11
Prednisone1.5%28
12
Certolizumab-pegol1.5%28
13
Ustekinumab1.5%28
14
Amoxicillin1.2%23
15
Leflunomide1.2%23

Taken alongside

1
Acetaminophen13.7%257
2
Albuterol9.8%183
3
Ibuprofen8.4%157
4
Omeprazole8.3%155
5
Triamcinolone8.3%155
6
Prednisone7.8%146
7
Hydroxyzine7.4%138
8
Fluticasone6.9%129
9
Gabapentin6.9%129
10
Ergocalciferol6.9%129
11
Atorvastatin-calcium6.5%121
12
Lisinopril5.8%108
13
Levothyroxine-sodium5.8%108
14
Hydrocodone5.6%104
15
Naproxen5.3%100

Co-occurrence in adverse event reports does not establish a drug interaction. Patients often take multiple medications, and these lists reflect prescribing patterns rather than causal relationships. Consult a healthcare provider about potential drug interactions.

Who reports permethrin side effects

57.2% of permethrin adverse event reports involve female patients and 27.6% involve male patients. The largest age group is adult at 61%. These figures reflect who reports side effects, not underlying risk.

Sex

Female57.2%
Male27.6%
Unknown15.2%

Age group

< 21.4%
2–1110.6%
12–174.6%
18–6460.8%
65+22.7%

What is permethrin used for

Conditions and purposes for which patients were taking permethrin when the adverse event was reported.

AcarodermatitisAccidental Exposure To ProductArthropod BiteArthropod InfestationAcarodermatitisAccidental Exposure To ProductAdverse Drug ReactionAntiinflammatory TherapyArthropod BiteBed Bug InfestationBiteBed Bug InfestationBiteCompleted SuicideDelusion Of Parasitosis

Showing 15 of 87 indications

Permethrin brand names and reporting trend

Permethrin is sold under the brand name Elimite.

Brand names

Elimite1,642

Quarterly reports (20042025)

20052010201520202025

An upward trend reflects increased FAERS reporting overall, not necessarily increased risk.

Taking permethrin with another medication?

Ask OpenClaim about your specific drug combination. Get a sourced report using FDA data, drug labels, and medical literature.