Topicaine Topical application

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:

Allergies

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.

Pediatric

Because of benzocaine's toxicity, use in children under 2 years of age is not recommended.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of benzocaine in geriatric patients.

Interactions with Medicines

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. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

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.

Other Medical Problems

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:

• Anemia or
• Glucose-6-phosphodiesterase deficiency (a hereditary metabolic disorder affecting red blood cells) or
• Hemoglobin-M disease (a hereditary metabolic disorder affecting red blood cells) or
• NADH-methemoglobin reductase deficiency (a hereditary metabolic disorder affecting red blood cells) or
• Pyruvate-kinase deficiency (a hereditary metabolic disorder affecting red blood cells)—Use with caution. May increase the risk of developing a serious side effect called methemoglobinemia.

• Asthma or
• Bronchitis or
• Emphysema or
• Heart disease or
• Infection at the place of application or
• Large sore, broken skin, or injury at the place of application or
• Smokers—Use with caution. May cause side effects to become worse.

• Children under the age of 2 years—Should not be used in this age group.