Benzocaine Topical

Benzocaine Topical is a prescription medication used to reduce pain or discomfort caused by minor skin irritations, sore throat, sunburn, vaginal or rectal irritation, ingrown toenails, hemorrhoids, and many other sources of minor pain on a surface of the body.

• Benzocaine Topical is available under various brand names: Americaine, Americaine Anesthetic Lubricant, Americaine Hemorrhoidal, Anacaine, Anbesol Baby, Anbesol Cold Sore Therapy, Anbesol Gel, Anbesol Liquid, Anbesol Liquid Cool Mint, Anbesol Maximum Strength, Babee Teething Lotion, Benzodent, Benz-O-Sthetic, Boil Ease Pain Relieving, Cepacol Dual Relief Sore Throat Cherry, Cepacol Dual Relief Sore Throat Mint, Cepacol Fizzlers, Cepacol Ultra, Dent-O-Kain, Dermoplast, Detane, Foille Plus, Hurricaine, Hurricaine Kit, Hurricaine Snap-n-Go, Kank-a, Lanacane, Lanacane Maximum Strength, LolliCaine, Medicone Maximum Strength, Numzident, Num-Zit, Orabase, Orabase Baby Teething Gel, Orabase Gel-B, Orabase Lip Healer, Orabase with Benzocaine, Orajel, Orajel Baby, Orajel Baby Nighttime, Orajel D, Orajel Denture Plus, Orajel Maximum Strength, Orajel Maximum Strength PM, Orajel Mouth Aid, Orajel Mouth Sore Medicine, Orajel Mouth-Aid, Orajel Severe Pain Formula, Oral Pain Relief, OraMagic Plus, Outgro Pain Relief, Retre-Gel, Rid-A-Pain, Skeeter Stik, Solarcaine Aerosol, Sting-Kill, Topex, zilactin-B

Common side effects of Benzocaine Topical include:

• mild stinging, burning, or itching where the medicine is applied;
• skin tenderness or redness; or
• dry white flakes at the application site.

Serious side effects of Benzocaine Topical include:

• hives,
• difficulty breathing,
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat,
• a headache, tiredness, confusion;
• severe burning, stinging, or sensitivity where the medicine is applied;
• swelling, warmth, or redness; or
• oozing, blistering, or any signs of infection,
• a headache, tiredness, confusion;
• fast heartbeats;
• feeling light-headed or short of breath; and
• pale, blue, or gray appearance of the skin, lips, or fingernails.

Rare side effects of Benzocaine Topical include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because 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.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Injectable solution

• 10 mg/mL

Oral solution

• 10 mg/mL
• 8 mg/mL

Tablet

• 20 mg
• 40 mg
• 80 mg

Dermal irritation

Adult dosage

• Ointment 5%, spray 5% and 20%: Apply to the affected area or use 1 spray up to 3 to 4 times daily as needed (frequency may vary by product; also refer to manufacturer's labeling). In cases of bee stings, remove the stinger before treatment.

Hemorrhoids

Adult dosage

• Ointment 20%: Apply to the affected area up to 6 times daily.

Mouth and gum irritation

Adult dosage

• Apply a thin layer to the affected area or use 1 spray up to 4 times daily as needed.

Pediatric dosage

• Oral 10% or 20% gel/liquid: Children above 2 years and Adolescents: Apply a thin layer to the affected area up to 4 times daily as needed.
• Oral 5% spray: Children above 6 years and Adolescents: Use 1 spray to the affected area up to 4 times daily.

Sore throat/mouth

Adult dosage

• Gel, liquid, or spray 20% (Hurricaine products only): Spray on the affected area or throat up to 4 times daily.
• Lozenge: Allow 1 lozenge to dissolve slowly in the mouth; may repeat every 2 hours as needed.

Pediatric dosage

• Oral lozenge: Children above 5 years and Adolescents: Allow 1 lozenge to dissolve slowly in the mouth; may repeat every 2 hours as needed.

Topical anesthetic

Adult dosage

• Apply a small amount to mucosa to achieve Topical anesthesia.

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

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 Topical has no noted severe interactions with any other drugs.
• Benzocaine Topical has no noted serious interactions with any other drugs.
• Benzocaine Topical has no noted moderate interactions with any other drugs.
• Benzocaine Topical has no noted minor interactions with any 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 product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

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

Long-Term Effects

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

Cautions

• Benzocaine Topical used in the mouth may cause a condition in which the oxygen in your body tissues can become dangerously low. This is a potentially fatal condition called methemoglobinemia (met-HEEM-oh glo-bin-EE-mee-a). Do not use benzocaine Topical if you have ever had methemoglobinemia.
• GET EMERGENCY MEDICAL HELP IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF METHEMOGLOBINEMIA: headache, tired feeling, confusion, fast heart rate, and feeling light-headed or short of breath, with a pale, blue, or gray appearance on your skin, lips, or fingernails.
• An overdose of numbing medication can cause fatal side effects if too much of the medicine is absorbed through your skin and into your blood. Use the smallest amount needed.
• Do not use this medicine on a child younger than 2 years old.
• Avoid eating within 1 hour after using benzocaine Topical on your gums or inside your mouth.
• Benzocaine Topical is for use only on the surface of your body, or just inside the mouth, vagina, or rectum. Avoid getting this medication in your eyes. Avoid swallowing the gel, liquid, or ointment while applying it to your gums or the inside of your mouth. The throat spray or oral lozenge may be swallowed gradually during use.
• Remove the wrapper, but avoid handling the suppository too long or it will melt. Lie on your back with your knees up toward your chest. Gently insert the suppository into your rectum about 1 inch, pointed tip first.
• Stay lying down for a few minutes while the suppository melts. You should feel little or no discomfort. Avoid using the bathroom for at least an hour.
• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse within the first 7 days of using benzocaine Topical. Also, call your doctor if your symptoms had cleared up but then came back.
• If you are treating a sore throat, call your doctor if the pain is severe or lasts longer than 2 days, especially if you also develop a fever, headache, skin rash, swelling, nausea, vomiting, cough, or breathing problems.

Pregnancy & Lactation

• Consult your physician before taking this medicine.
• Lactation
  • Consult your physician before taking this medicine.