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Benzocaine is an over-the-counter pain medication that is contained in numerous products. The United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has issued warnings about its use due to a sometimes fatal side effect known as methemoglobinemia. Due to this potential danger, consumers search for alternatives to the use of benzocaine.
Benzocaine is a prescription medication that helps alleviate pain. It is often given as a topical ointment and works by numbing the area. Many over-the-counter medications for toothaches and sore throats use benzocaine as a numbing agent.
Benzocaine is a form of local anesthetic that has been used as a topical pain reliever since the end of the 19th century. Although initially created as a stand-alone anesthetic, benzocaine is now the active ingredient in a number of over-the-counter analgesic ointments used particularly in oral-pain relief, such as Orajel.
The generic nerve-numbing spray benzocaine, sold under the brand names of Endocaine and Hurricaine, is recommended to ease the pain and itching associated with sunburn, bug bites, scrapes and rashes. The spray is applied directly to the affected area.
Lidocaine and benzocaine are both local anesthetics, meaning they cause a specific area of the body to be insensitive to pain without causing loss of consciousness. As local anesthetics, they are commonly used in dental treatments, topical applications and even some surgical procedures. Although they are similar in their modes of action within the body, they are also different in their structure and potency.
Benzocaine is an anesthetic found in many brand name products used to relieve pain. Benzocaine works by numbing the area in which it is applied. It can be found in creams that treat sunburn and skin irritations as well as lozenges that provide relief from sore throats. Benzocaine is also used to treat hemorrhoids. Benzocaine can have serious side effects, so it is important to know how to use Benzocaine properly.
