Benzocaine: profile and news

FDA Issues Public Health Advisory Regarding Benzocaine Sprays Feb 15, 2006
Benzocaine sprays are used for locally numbing mucous membranes of the mouth and throat during minor surgical procedures or when a tube must be inserted into ... - Newsinferno.com,

FDA Issues Public Health Advisory on Benzocaine Sprays Feb 14, 2006
Benzocaine sprays are used in medical practice for locally numbing mucous membranes of the mouth and throat for minor surgical procedures or when a tube must ... - EndoNurse,

FDA Issues Public Health Advisory About Benzocaine Sprays Feb 13, 2006
Advisory to notify healthcare professionals and patients about adverse events, including methemoglobinemia, associated with the use of benzocaine sprays used ... - DG News

FDA Warns About Risks of Throat-Numbing Spray Feb 14, 2006
13 - The Veterans Health Administration has halted the use of benzocaine sprays to numb mucous membranes in the mouth and throat, prompting the FDA to reissue ... - CNN

USDA listens to horse industry Feb 11, 2006
In samples taken at the Kentucky Celebration, 25 samples from three classes found foreign substances, with 44 percent Benzocaine. ... - Shelbyville Times-Gazette,

Other information

Indication
For general use as a lubricant and topical anesthetic on esophagus, larynx, mouth, nasal cavity, rectum, respiratory tract or trachea, urinary tract, vagina. It is also used to suppress gag reflex.

Pharmacology
Benzocaine is a local anesthetic commonly used as a topical pain reliever. It is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter analgesic ointments. It is also indicated for general use as a lubricant and topical anesthetic on intratracheal catheters and pharyngeal and nasal airways to obtund the pharyngeal and tracheal reflexes; on nasogastric and endoscopic tubes; urinary catheters; laryngoscopes; proctoscopes; sigmoidoscopes and vaginal specula.

Mechanism Of Action
Benzocaine binds to sodium channel and reversibly stabilizes the neuronal membrane which decreases its permeability to sodium ions. Depolarization of the neuronal membrane is inhibited thereby blocking the initiation and conduction of nerve impulses.

Drug Category
Anesthetics; Antipruritics; Local Anesthetics; ATC:C05AD03; ATC:D04AB04; ATC:N01BA05; ATC:R02AD01

Brand Names/Synonyms
Aethoform; Amben Ethyl Ester; Americaine; Anaesthan-Syngala; Anaesthesin; Anaesthin; Anestezin; Anesthesin; Anesthesine; Anesthone; Baby Anbesol; Benzocaine; Dermoplast; Ethoform; Ethyl Aminobenzoate; Ethyl P-Aminobenzoate; Ethyl P-Aminophenylcarboxylate; Ethylester Kyseliny P-Aminobenzoove; Hurricaine; Identhesin; Keloform; Norcain; Norcaine; Ora-Jel; Orthesin; P-Aminobenzoic Acid, Ethyl Ester; P-Carbethoxyaniline; P-Ethoxycarboxylic Aniline; Parathesin; Parathesine; Solarcaine; Solu H; Topcaine

Dosage Forms
dental paste; film-forming gel; liquid; ointment

Absorption
Not Available

Interactions
Interactions for Benzocaine:

No information is available.

Chemical IUPAC Name
ethyl4-aminobenzoate

Chemical Formula
C9H11NO2

Half Life
Not Available

Drug Type
Approved Drug

# Accession No
APRD00539

CAS Registry Number
94-09-7