Benzocaine: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

Function

What is benzocaine used for?

Benzocaine or benzocaine is a local anesthetic or anesthetic in the form of mouthwash, gel, ointment, and powder. The way benzocaine works is by blocking nerve signals in the body.

Benzocaine is an over the counter drug. This means that this drug can be purchased at a pharmacy either with or without a doctor's prescription.

Another function of benzocaine in general is to reduce pain or discomfort due to:

• slight skin irritation
• sore throat
• skin burns from the sun
• pain from teething
• irritation of the vagina or rectum
• ingrown nails, hemorrhoids
• various other sources of minor skin pain.

Not only that, but benzocaine is also useful for numbing sensations on the skin or surface in the mouth, nose, throat, vagina, or rectum to reduce pain due to inserting a medical device such as a tube or speculum.

There are many brands and forms of benzocaine in topical form (topical) available and not all brands are listed in this article. Topical benzocaine may also be used for purposes not listed in this treatment guideline.

Usage and Storage

How is benzocaine used?

There are several things you should pay attention to when using benzocaine including:

• Follow all directions for use that have been instructed by the doctor or listed on the medicine package.
• Do not use more of this medication than prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist.
• Ask your doctor if this medication is safe for use by children and toddlers.
• Use the smallest amount of benzocaine needed to numb skin sensations or relieve pain.
• Do not use large amounts of topical benzocaine, or cover the treated skin area with a bandage or plastic wrap without medical advice.
• The drug may be absorbed more if you apply it to a large area of ​​the wound, apply a hot compress to the skin area, or apply a bandage to the wound.

How to use benzocaine is as follows:

Topical benzocaine

The way to treat minor skin problems using topical benzocaine is with

• Apply this medicine in a thin layer to the problem area
• To treat hemorrhoids, clean the area with soap and plain water before applying topical benzocaine. Apply the drug up to 6 times per day.
• Do not use topical benzocaine to treat large areas of skin or deep puncture wounds.
• Avoid using this medication on skin that is blistered or blistered, for example, a severe burn or abrasion.
• Avoid eating for 1 hour after using this medication on your gums or in your mouth.
• Avoid using this medication in your eyes.
• Call your doctor if your symptoms don't improve or get worse within the first seven days of using topical benzocaine. Contact a doctor if symptoms recur.

Benzocaine spray

For a spray, use in the following ways:

• Hold the bottle 6-12 inches from the skin
• Spray it onto your hands and then rub it over your face
• Avoid contact with eyes

Benzocaine suppositories

This drug is different from the others, because it is solid and is designed to pass through the anus.

If you are using rectal suppositories, try emptying the stomach and bladder before inserting the suppository.

Remove the outer wrap from the suppository before inserting it. Avoid holding the suppository for too long or the medicine will melt in your hands.

Never use rectal suppositories by mouth.

The steps for using benzocaine are as follows:

• Lie to the left with your right knee in front of your chest
• Gently insert the suppository into the anus 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep with the taper pointing in first.
• Keep lying down while the suppository melts in the anus. Do not go to the bathroom until at least one hour after using the benzocaine suppository.

If you are treating strep throat, call your doctor if you have severe pain or it lasts more than two days, especially if the pain is followed by fever, headache, rash, swelling, nausea, vomiting, coughing, or trouble breathing.

How to store this drug?

The proper way to store benzocaine is to store the drug at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom and also do not freeze drugs.

Medicines under different brands may have different storage methods. Check the product box for instructions on how to store it, or ask the pharmacist. Stay away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when the drug has expired or when it is no longer needed.

Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your medicine.

Dose

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the adult dosage for benzocaine?

The following is the recommended dosage of benzocaine for adults:

20% gel, ointment, spray, or liquid

For anesthesia, apply or spray the medication in your mouth or throat 3-4 times a day.

For sore throat medication, use it 3 times a day.

Lozenge

For sore throat, take lozenge tablets and suck them in until they dissolve in your mouth every 2 hours. The maximum daily dose is 10 mg.

What is the dosage of benzocaine for children?

For sore throat medication, use as much as 1 time a day (1 mg) in topical form.

In what dosage is this drug available?

Aerosol, external:

Ivy-Rid: 2% (82.5 mL)

Gel, mouth / throat:

• Anbesol: 10% (9 g)
• Anbesol JR: 10% (9 g)
• Anbesol Maximum Strength: 20% (9 g)
• Baby Anbesol: 7.5% (9 g)
• Benz-O-Sthetic: 20% (15 g)
• Benz-O-Sthetic: 20% (29 g)
• Dentapaine: 20% (11 g)
• Hurricaine: 20% (5.25 g)
• Hurricaine: 20% (28.4 g)
• Hurricaine: 20% (30 g)
• Oral Pain Relief Max St: 20% (14.2 g)
• Zilactin Baby: 10% (9.4 g)

Fluid, mouth / throat:

• Anbesol: 10% (12 mL)
• Anbesol Maximum Strength: 20% (12 mL)
• Benz-O-Sthetic: 20% (56 g)
  Cepacol Dual Relief: 5% (22.2 mL)
• Dent-O-Kain / 20: 20% (9 mL)
• Oral Pain Relief Max St: 20% (15 mL)

Side effects

What side effects can I experience due to benzocaine?

Just like drugs in general, benzocaine also has the potential to cause side effects in some people.

According to Drugs.com, here are the side effects that may arise from the drug benzocaine:

• Lips, nails, and palms turn bluish in color
• Dark urine
• Hard to breathe
• Dizzy
• Headache
• High fever
• Nausea
• Pale skin
• Fast heart rate
• Sore throat
• An unusual wound
• Unusual fatigue
• Gag
• The condition gets worse, there is irritation, swelling, or the mouth area turns red

Not everyone experiences the side effects of anesthetics as mentioned above. There may be some side effects not listed above.

If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions & Warnings

What should be known before using benzocaine?

There are several things you should pay attention to if you want to use benzocaine, including:

• Do not use this medicine if you have had methemoglobinemia, a type of blood disorder, before.
• Do not use this medication in children younger than two years.
• Do not eat any food if you are using this medicine in your mouth area for at least an hour.
• This medication is a drug that you should only use on the surface of the body, inside the mouth, vagina, and anus. Keep this medication out of your eyes and avoid swallowing gels, liquids, or ointments from this medicine when using it in the mouth area.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if using this drug is safe for you if you experience:

• Asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or other respiratory disorders
• Heart disease
• Personal or family history of methemoglobinemia, or genetic (inherited) enzyme deficiency
• If you have a smoking habit

Is this drug safe for pregnant and lactating women?

Animal studies have shown the detrimental effects of the use of local anesthetics in pregnant women. However, it is not known whether this drug can absorb into breast milk (ASI).

Because many drugs pass into breast milk, caution must be increased when this drug is given to breastfeeding women. These drugs are included in pregnancy risk category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Application of this drug in the breast area should be avoided for breastfeeding mothers because there is a possibility that the baby will touch or lick the area that has been smeared with this drug. Talk to your doctor about using this medicine while pregnant and breastfeeding.

Interaction

What other medicines may interact with benzocaine?

Although certain drugs should not be used simultaneously, in other cases two different drugs may be used together even if interactions may occur. In this case, the doctor may want to change the dose, or other warnings may be important.

Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking prescription or nonprescription drugs. The following is a list of drugs that can interact with benzocaine, including:

• amyl nitrite / sodium nitrite / sodium thiosulfate (Cyanide Antidote Kit)
• epinephrine / prilocaine (Citanest Forte)
• lidocaine / prilocaine topical (Emla, Medolor Pak, Prilovix, Lidopril XR, Emla Anesthetic Disc, Lidopril, Livixil Pak, Anodyne LPT, Dolotranz, Prikaan, Relador Pak Plus, AgonEaze, Venipuncture CPI, Prilovix Plus, Prilolid, Prilovix Lite, DermacinRxolid, LiproZonePak, Oraqix, DermacinRx Empricaine, DermacinRx Prikaan, Leva Set)
• prilocaine (Citanest HCl Plain)
• sodium nitrite / sodium thiosulfate (Nithiodote)

Can food or alcohol interact with Benzocaine?

Certain drugs should not be used when eating certain foods because drug-food interactions can occur.

Smoking tobacco or consuming alcohol with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur.

Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with this drug?

The presence of other medical disorders may affect the use of this drug in your body. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have other medical conditions, such as:

• Anemia
• Glucose-6-phosphodiesterase deficiency (an inherited metabolic disorder that affects red blood cells)
• Hemoglobin-M disease (an inherited metabolic disorder that affects red blood cells)
• NADH-methemoglobin reductase deficiency (an inherited metabolic disorder that affects red blood cells)
• Pyruvate-kinase deficiency (an inherited metabolic disorder affecting red blood cells) —use with caution. May increase the risk of developing a side effect called methemoglobinemia.
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Heart disease
• Infection at the site of drug use
• Large wounds, broken skin, or wounds at the site of drug use
• Smoker. Use with care. May exacerbate side effects.
• Children under 2 years of age. Should not be used in this age group.

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

A drug overdose can cause deadly side effects if too much of the drug is absorbed through the skin and into the blood.

This is more common when using numbing medications without a medical doctor's advice (for example during cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal). Beware that many cosmetic procedures are performed in the absence of a medical doctor.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, use it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.