Americaine

Since benzocaine topical is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of benzocaine topical applied to the skin can cause life-threatening side effects such as uneven heartbeats, seizure (convulsions), coma, slowed breathing, or respiratory failure (breathing stops).

Benzocaine topical used in the mouth or throat may cause a rare but life-threatening condition called methemoglobinemia. In this condition, the amount of oxygen in your blood stream becomes dangerously low. This condition may occur after only one use of benzocaine or after several uses.

Signs and symptoms may occur within minutes or up to 2 hours after using benzocaine topical in the mouth or throat. GET EMERGENCY MEDICAL HELP IF YOU HAVE:

• headache, tired feeling, confusion;

• fast heart rate;

• feeling light-headed or short of breath; and

• pale, blue, or gray appearance of your skin, lips, or fingernails.

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

Stop using benzocaine topical and call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe burning, stinging, or sensitivity where the medicine is applied;

• swelling, warmth, or redness; or

• oozing, blistering, or any signs of infection.

Common 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.

• It is used to treat signs of hemorrhoids or rectal irritation.

• If you have an allergy to benzocaine or any other part of Americaine (benzocaine rectal ointment).
• If you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had, like rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If there is an infection where this medicine will be used.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with Americaine.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this medicine with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Shortness of breath.
• Change in color of skin to a bluish color like on the lips, nail beds, fingers, or toes.
• Very bad irritation where Americaine is used.
• Very bad bleeding from rectum or rectal pain.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from heat.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.

Benzocaine topical 20% gel:
Sunburn: Apply to affected area as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical 20% spray:
Sunburn, pain, insect bites, pruritus: Hold container approximately 6 to 12 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine topical 20% cream:
Sunburn, pain, pruritus, insect bites, poison ivy: Apply to affected area as needed not more than 1 to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine topical ointment:
Insect bites: Apply topically to affected area(s) as needed.

Benzocaine topical 20% liquid:
Pain: Apply to affected area(s) as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical 5% spray:
Sunburn, pain, insect bites, pruritus: Hold container approximately 10 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine topical cream:
Pruritus, sunburn, insect bites, pain: Apply sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 or 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical spray:
Sunburn, pruritus: Hold container approximately 4 to 6 inches from skin and spray sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine sore throat lozenges:
Dissolve 1 lozenge slowly in the mouth every 2 hours as needed.

Greater than or equal to 2 years to 18 years:
Benzocaine topical 20% rectal ointment: Apply externally to affected area up to 6 times a day.