What is benzocaine topical?
Benzocaine is a local anesthetic (numbing medication). It works by blocking nerve signals in your body.
Benzocaine topical is used to reduce pain or discomfort caused by minor skin irritations, sore throat, sunburn, teething pain, vaginal or rectal irritation, ingrown toenails, hemorrhoids, and many other sources of minor pain on a surface of the body. Benzocaine is also used to numb the skin or surfaces inside the mouth, nose, throat, vagina, or rectum to lessen the pain of inserting a medical instrument such as a tube or speculum.
There are many brands and forms of benzocaine topical available and not all brands are listed on this leaflet.
Benzocaine topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about benzocaine topical?
There are many brands and forms of benzocaine topical available and not all brands are listed on this leaflet.
Benzocaine topical used in the mouth or throat may cause a life-threatening condition in which the amount of oxygen in your blood stream becomes dangerously low. This condition is called methemoglobinemia (met-HEEM-oh glo-bin-EE-mee-a) and it may occur after only one use of benzocaine or after several uses.
Signs and symptoms of methemoglobinemia may occur within minutes or up to 2 hours after using benzocaine topical in the mouth or throat. GET EMERGENCY MEDICAL HELP IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS: headache, tired feeling, confusion, fast heart rate, and feeling light-headed or short of breath, with a pale, blue, or gray appearance of your skin, lips, or fingernails.
Do not use benzocaine topical if you have ever had methemoglobinemia in the past.
Do not use this medicine on a child younger than 2 years old without medical advice.
An overdose of numbing medications can cause fatal side effects if too much of the medicine is absorbed through your skin and into your blood. This is more likely to occur when using a numbing medicine without the advice of a medical doctor (such as during a cosmetic procedure like laser hair removal). Overdose symptoms may include uneven heartbeats, seizure (convulsions), coma, slowed breathing, or respiratory failure (breathing stops).
Use the smallest amount of this medication needed to numb the skin or relieve pain. Do not use large amounts of benzocaine topical, or cover treated skin areas with a bandage or plastic wrap without medical advice. Be aware that many cosmetic procedures are performed without a medical doctor present.
Your body may absorb more of this medication if you use too much, if you apply it over large skin areas, or if you apply heat, bandages, or plastic wrap to treated skin areas. Skin that is cut or irritated may also absorb more topical medication than healthy skin.
Before using benzocaine topical, tell your doctor if you have any type of inherited enzyme deficiency, heart disease, a breathing disorder such as asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema, or if you smoke.
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.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before using benzocaine topical?
Do not use benzocaine topical if you have ever had methemoglobinemia in the past.
An overdose of numbing medications can cause fatal side effects if too much of the medicine is absorbed through your skin and into your blood. This is more likely to occur when using a numbing medicine without the advice of a medical doctor (such as during a cosmetic procedure like laser hair removal). Overdose symptoms may include uneven heartbeats, seizure (convulsions), coma, slowed breathing, or respiratory failure (breathing stops).
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medicine if you have:
asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or other breathing disorder;
heart disease;
a personal or family history of methemoglobinemia, or any genetic (inherited) enzyme deficiency; or
if you smoke.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether benzocaine topical will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication..
It is not known whether benzocaine topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not use this medicine on a child younger than 2 years old without medical advice.