Benzocaine
Description
Benzocaine is an effective numbing medicine used before surgical procedures. It blocks nerve signals from a specific part of the body to the brain. It is categorized as a local anesthetic medicine. It 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 the body surface.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Benzocaine
- Contact dermatitis
- Edema
- Methemoglobinemia
- Burning and stinging
- Urticaria
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Irritation in or around the mouth.
Uses of Benzocaine
What is it prescribed for?
- Local anesthesia
- Pain and irritation
- Hemorrhoids
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of this medicine can be observed within a minute of administration.
- Duration of effectThe effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 5 to 15 mins.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendency has been reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine should not be applied to the breast or the nipple because the infant may consume the drug during breastfeeding and this may lead to severe side effects.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use if you have a known allergy to Benzocaine or any other ester-type local anesthetics.
Secondary bacterial infections
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with bacterial infections of the affected area.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine should not be applied to the breast or the nipple because the infant may consume the drug during breastfeeding and this may lead to severe side effects.
General warnings
Methemoglobinemia
This medicine is not recommended for use if you have a previous history of Methemoglobinemia, a condition in which the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is reduced.
Overdose
In the case of an overdose, seek emergency medical attention or contact the doctor immediately. An overdose of Benzocaine may cause life-threatening side effects such as irregular heartbeats, seizures (convulsions), coma, slowed breathing, and respiratory failure.
Missed Dose
Skip the missed dose if it is almost the time for your next dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Sodium Nitrite
Prilocaine
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Apply Benzocaine exactly as directed on the label. This medicine should not be used if you have a history of Methemoglobinemia. Do not use this medicine for children younger than 2 years old without your doctor's advice.
Miscelleneous
How it works
This medicine works by blocking the relay of pain signals from a part of the body to the brain.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Topical anesthetics
Schedule
OTC
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 6 July 2017]. Available from:
Benzocaine - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 6 July 2017]. Available from:
DailyMed - benzocaine spray [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 8 January 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. Davisplus.fadavis.com. 2018 [cited 8 January 2018]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 8 Jan 2018
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.