home > drugs a-z list > americaine (benzocaine) drug center > americaine (benzocaine) drug - patient side effects and images

Brand Names: Americaine, Americaine Anesthetic Lubricant, Americaine Hemorrhoidal, Anacaine, Anbesol Baby, Anbesol Cold Sore, Anbesol Gel, Anbesol Liquid, Anbesol Liquid Cool Mint, Anbesol Maximum Strength, Babee Teething Lotion, Benzo-O-Stetic, Benz-O-Sthetic, Boil Ease Pain Relieving, Cepacol Dual Relief Sore Throat Cherry, Cepacol Dual Relief Sore Throat Mint, Cepacol Extra Strength, Cepacol Extra Strength Cherry, Cepacol Extra Strength Cherry Sugar Free, Cepacol Extra Strength Citrus, Cepacol Extra Strength Honey Lemon, Cepacol Extra Strength Menthol, Cepacol Extra Strength Menthol Sugar Free, Dermoplast, Dermoplast Antibacterial, Detane, Foille Plus, Hurricaine, Hurricaine Kit, Hurricaine Snap-n-Go, Lanacane, Lanacane Maximum Strength, Lanacane with Aloe, Maintain, Medicone Maximum Strength, Numzident, Num-Zit, Orabase Baby Teething Gel, Orabase Gel-B, Orabase Lip Healer, Orabase with Benzocaine, Orajel, Orajel Baby, Orajel Baby Nighttime, Orajel D, Orajel Denture, Orajel Maximum Strength, Orajel Maximum Strength PM, 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, Solarcaine Plus Aloe, Sting-Kill, Topex, Trocaine, Vagisil Feminine Cream

Generic Name: benzocaine topical (Pronunciation: BENZ oh kane TOP ik al)

• What is benzocaine topical (Americaine)?
• What are the possible side effects of benzocaine topical?
• What is the most important information I should know about benzocaine topical?
• What should I discuss with my health care provider before using benzocaine topical?
• How should I use benzocaine topical?
• What happens if I miss a dose?
• What happens if I overdose?
• What should I avoid while taking benzocaine topical?
• What other drugs will affect benzocaine topical?
• Where can I get more information?

What is benzocaine topical (Americaine)?

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.

Benzocaine topical may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of benzocaine topical?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using benzocaine topical and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• severe burning, stinging, or sensitivity where the medicine is applied;
• swelling, warmth, or redness;
• oozing, blistering, or any signs of infection; or
• headache, weakness, dizziness, breathing problems, fast heart rate, and gray or bluish colored skin (rare but serious side effects of benzocaine).

Less serious side effects may include:

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

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Do not use benzocaine topical if you have a blood cell disorder called methemoglobinemia.

Before using benzocaine topical, tell your doctor if you have any type of inherited enzyme deficiency, a breathing disorder such as asthma or emphysema, or if you smoke.

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.