Benzocaine

Benzocaine is a prescription medication used as a local anesthetic to reduce pain or discomfort associated with bee stings, minor burns, sunburn, insect bites, mouth or gum irritation or pain, hemorrhoids, dental pain, boils and premature ejaculation.

• Benzocaine is available under the following different brand names: EjectDelay

Adult and pediatric dosage

Gel/topical solution

• 6.3%
• 7.5%
• 10%
• 20%

Liquid

• 5%
• 6.3%
• 7.5%
• 10%
• 20%

Bee Stings, Minor Burns, Sunburn, Insect Bites

Adult dosage

• Apply 5-20% to affected area every 6-8 hours as needed, remove stinger prior to application if a bee sting

Pediatric dosage

• Children younger than 2 years: Safety and efficacy not established
• Children 2 years and older: Apply 5-20% to affected area every 6-8 hours as needed; remove stinger prior to application if a bee sting

Mouth and Gum Irritation

Adult dosage

• Apply 10-20% solution (or other topical formulation) as needed

Pediatric dosage

• Children younger than 2 years: Safety and efficacy not established
• Children 2 years or older: Apply 10-20% solution (or other topical formulation) as needed

Sore Throat/Mouth Pain

Adult dosage

• 1 lozenge dissolve in mouth; repeat every 2 hours as needed (generally use less than 2 days)
• Apply 1 spray to affected area; spit after 1 minute; may repeat up to 4 times

Pediatric dosage

• Children younger than 5 years: Safety and efficacy not established
• Children 5 years or older: 
• Oral lozenge: 1 lozenge dissolved in mouth; repeat every 2 hours as needed (generally use less than 2 days)
• Oral spray: Apply 1 spray to affected area; spit after 1 min; may repeat up to 4 times

Hemorrhoids

Adult dosage

• Apply 5-20% externally to affected area every 4 hours

Pediatric dosage

• Children younger than 12 years: Safety and efficacy not established
• Children 12 years or older: Apply 5-20% externally to affected area every 4 hours

Dental Pain

Adult dosage

• Use 2.5-20% solution (or other topical formulation) as needed

Boils

Adult dosage

• Apply 20% to affected area; not to exceed every 12 hours

Premature Ejaculation

Adult dosage

• EjectDelay (7.5% gel): Apply small amount to the penis gland 15-20 minutes before sexual intercourse. 
• It can be applied with or without a condom
• Washed off after intercourse

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages."

Common side effects of Benzocaine include:

• mild stinging, burning, or itching where the medicine is applied, 
• skin tenderness
• redness of the skin, and
• dry white flakes where the medicine was applied

Serious side effects of Benzocaine include:

• hives, 
• difficulty breathing, 
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, 
• headache, 
• tiredness, 
• confusion, 
• fast heartbeats, 
• lightheadedness, 
• shortness of breath, 
• pale, blue, or gray appearance of the skin, lips, or fingernails, 
• severe burning, stinging, or sensitivity where the medication is applied, 
• swelling,
• warmth, 
• redness, 
• oozing, 
• blistering, and 
• any signs of infection

Rare side effects of Benzocaine include:

• none 

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems may occur as a result of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• Benzocaine has severe interactions with no other drugs.
• Benzocaine has serious interactions with no other drugs
• Benzocaine has moderate interactions with no other drugs.
• Benzocaine has minor interactions with no other drugs. 

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this drug, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to benzocaine or other ester-type local anesthetics.
• Secondary bacterial infection of treated area

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Benzocaine?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Benzocaine?”

Cautions

• Not for use in open wounds, for prolonged time and/or on large portions of the body; avoid contact with eyes
• Some dosage forms may contain benzyl alcohol; large amounts of benzyl alcohol associated with potentially fatal toxicity in neonates (gasping syndrome)
• Some dosage forms contain propylene glycol; large amounts are potentially toxic as they are associated with lactic acidosis, hyperosmolality, seizures and respiratory depression
• Rectal dosage form is for external use only; not for inserting into rectum using fingers or any mechanical device
• Irregular heartbeats, respiratory depression, seizures, and death reported in patients who applied topical anesthetics, without supervision of a trained professional, in large amounts or large areas of the skin, used wraps/dressing to cover skin, or left products on for prolonged periods of time
• Methemoglobinemia
  • Methemoglobinemia reported following topical use, especially when high concentrations (14-20%) of spray formulations applied to mouth or mucous membranes; suspected cases should be confirmed by co-oximetry, as it yields accurate measures of methemoglobin levels
  • Not for use for teething or mouth pain in infants and children younger than 2 years due to risk of methemoglobinemia
  • Use caution in patients with heart disease, hemoglobin or enzyme abnormalities, inflamed or damaged mucosa, or respiratory problems, including asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema in smokers; patients at risk should consider alternatives to benzocaine sprays

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use with caution in pregnancy if benefits outweigh risks.
• Lactation: excretion in milk unknown; use with caution.