Step 1

Step 1 Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) is an organic compound used as a component of pesticide formulations. It is used for the treatment of head, pubic (crab), and body lice. Piperonyl butoxide is a synergist. It has no pesticidal activity of its own, but acts to increase the activity of pesticides such as carbamates, pyrethrins, pyrethroids, and rotenone. Piperonyl butoxide is a semisynthetic derivative of safrole.

Piperonyl butoxide does not affect the mixed-function oxidase system in humans. In small trials in human volunteers, usual doses of piperonyl butoxide had no effect on humans.

Step 1
Uses
Dosage
Side Effect
Precautions
Interactions
Uses during Pregnancy
Uses during Breastfeeding
Accute Overdose
Food Interaction
Half Life
Volume of Distribution
Clearance
Interaction With other Medicine
Contradiction
Storage

Trade Name	Step 1
Generic	Piperonyl butoxide + pyrethrins topical
Weight	3% + 0.3%, 4% + 0.33%,
Type	Topical Kit, Topical Shampoo, Topical Spray
Therapeutic Class
Manufacturer
Available Country	United States
Last Updated:	September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am

Uses

Piperonyl butoxide is a pesticide used as a potentiator ingredient in the treatment of pediculosis (head lice, body lice or crabs) to boost efficacy of treatment.

For the treatment of head, pubic (crab), and body lice.

Step 1 is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Head Lice Infestation, Lice of the body, Lice of the pubic area

How Step 1 works

Piperonyl butoxide is not a pesticide, but acts as a synergist to increase the activity of pesticides such as carbamates, pyrethrins, pyrethroids, and rotenone. Piperonyl butoxide inhibits the mixed-function oxidase (MFO) system of an insect. The MFO system is the insects natural defense system and causes the oxidative breakdown of insecticides. Thus, by inhibiting this system piperonyl butoxide promotes higher levels of insecticide and allows for lower doses to be used for a lethal effect.

Toxicity

The acute oral LD50 for rats is 4,570 to 12,800 mg/kg and 2,700 to 5,300 mg/kg for rabbits. It is low to very low in toxicity when ingested by mammals.

Volume of Distribution

Piperonyl butoxide is minimally absorbed in humans. Volume of distribution has not been studied.

Elimination Route

Piperonyl butoxide is applied topically. In a study evaluating the 7-day urinary accumulation of piperonyl butoxide after topical application, it was found that approximately 2% of the dose was absorbed through the skin. The percutaneous absorption when applied to the scalp was found to be 8.3%.