Benzocaine (oral route, oromucosal route)
Available brands
Anbesol, Babee Teething, Benzodent, Benz-O-Sthetic, Bi-Zets/Benzo-Troches, Dentemp's, Dent-O-Kain/20, Detane, Gumsol, HAD, Hurricaine, Hurricane Spray Kit, Kank-A Soft Brush, Larynex, Miradyne-3, Mycinette, Orabase-B, Oracaine, Ora film, Orajel, OraMagic Plus, Orasol, Red Cross Canker Sore, Thorets, Trocaine, Zetts, Zilactin, Zilactin-B, Anbesol Extra Strength, Anbesol Liquid, Baby Anbesol, Baby Orajel, Baby Orajel Liquid, Maximum Strength Orajel Pm, Orajel Extra Strength
About this medication
Benzocaine is used to relieve pain and irritation caused by sore throat, sore mouth, or canker sores. This medicine is available without a prescription. Your doctor may have special instructions on the proper use and dose for your medical problem. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Because of benzocaine's toxicity, use in children under 2 years of age is not recommended. No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects ofCepacol® lozengesin the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 5 years of age. No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of benzocaine in geriatric patients. However, elderly patients are more likely to have blood problems (eg, methemoglobinemia), which may require caution in patients receiving benzocaine. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
Use this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than directed. To do so may increase the chance of absorption into the body and the risk of side effects. This medicine should be used only for problems being treated by your doctor or conditions listed in the package directions.Check with your doctor before using it for other problems, especially if you think that an infection may be present. Do not use this medicine for more than 2 days without checking first with your doctor. In children, instead of using this medicine, talk with your child's doctor about different ways to treat teething. Give your child a firm rubber teething ring, or gently rub or massage your child's gums with your finger to relieve symptoms of teething pain. Do not use this medicine in children under the age of 2 unless your doctor tells you to. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Disclaimer: August is a health information platform and its responses don't constitute medical advise. Always consult with a licenced medical professional near you before making any changes.