Benzocaine, a local anesthetic commonly found in many over the counter teething pain and liquid medicines including Baby Orajel and Anbesol, has been associated with a rare but serious and potentially deadly condition called methemoglobinemia, which reduces the amount of oxygen carried in the bloodstream. Based upon information collected from the Food and Drug Administration”s (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System database, there were 21 cases of methemoglobinemia associated with the use of OTC benzocaine gel or liquid products through March 16, 2011.
This includes:
| Americaine | Dent’s Maxi-Strength Toothache | Orajel Medicated Toothache |
| Americaine Hemorrhoidal | Dermoplast Antibacterial | Orajel Mouth Sore |
| Anbesol | Dermoplast Painrelieving | Orajel Multi-Action Cold Sore |
| Anbesol Baby | Detane | Orajel PM |
| Anbesol Cold Sore Therapy | Dry Socket Remedy | Orajel Ultra Mouth Sore |
| Anbesol Jr. | Exactacain | Oticaine |
| Anbesol Maximum Strength | Foille | Otocain |
| Baby Orajel | Freez Eez | Outgro |
| Banadyne | HDA Toothache | Red Cross Canker Sore |
| Benzocaine Burn Spray | Hurricaine | Rid-A-Pain Dental Drops |
| Benzodent | Ivy-Rid | Skeeter Stik |
| Boil Ease Maximum Strength | Kanka Soft Brush | Sting-Kill |
| Cepacol Sore Throat | Lanacane | Tanac |
| Cetacaine | Lanacane Maximum Strength | Thorets |
| Chiggerex | Mycinettes | Topicale Xtra |
| Chiggertox | Navogan | Trocaine |
| Comfort Caine | Orabase with Benzocaine | Walgreens Oral Anesthetic Paste |
| Dentapaine | Orajel Denture Plus | Walgreens Zilactin-B |
| Dent’s Extra Strength Toothache | Orajel Maximum Strength | Zilactin Toothache and Gum Pain |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now advising parents and caregivers not to use the product on children under two without the advice of a licensed health care professional. If benzocaine products are used, they should not be taken more than four times per day.
The signs and symptoms of methemoglobinemia include:
- pale, gray or blue colored skin, lips, and nailbeds
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- confusion
- headache
- lightheadedness
- rapid heart beat
Symptoms can appear within minutes to up to one or two hours after application. Methemoglobinemia can occur after a single use or multiple uses. If you have taken or administered Benzocaine and you have questions, contact the Strom Law Firm, LLC today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case.