Americaine
- Generic Name: benzocaine
- Brand Name: Americaine
Americaine (Benzocaine) side effects drug center
Americaine Side Effects Center
What Is Americaine?
Americaine (benzocaine) Anesthetic Lubricant is a local anesthetic (numbing medication) used to reduce pain or discomfort caused by minor skin irritations, sore throat, sunburn, teething pain, vaginal or rectal irritation, ingrown toenails, hemorrhoids, and many other sources of minor pain on a surface of the body. Americaine (benzocaine) is also used to numb the skin or surfaces inside the mouth, nose, throat, vagina, or rectum to lessen the pain of inserting a medical instrument such as a tube or speculum. The brand name Americaine is discontinued in the U.S. Generic versions may be available.
What Are Side Effects of Americaine?
Common side effects of Americaine (benzocaine) include application site reactions such as:
- stinging,
- burning, or
- itching,
- skin tenderness or
- redness, or
- dry white flakes.
Stop using Americaine (benzocaine) topical and call your doctor if you have serious side effects including:
- headache,
- weakness,
- dizziness,
- breathing problems,
- fast heart rate, and
- gray or bluish colored skin (rare but serious side effects of benzocaine);
- severe burning, stinging, or sensitivity where the medicine is applied;
- swelling, warmth, or redness; or
- oozing, blistering, or any signs of infection.
Dosage for Americaine?
Apply a dose of benzocaine evenly to exterior of tube or instrument prior to use. It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied benzocaine.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Americaine?
But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use.
Americaine During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
During pregnancy, benzocaine should be used only if prescribed. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Additional Information
Our Americaine (benzocaine) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
Americaine Consumer Information
Benzocaine topical used in the mouth may cause a condition in which the oxygen in your body tissues can become dangerously low. This is a potentially fatal condition called methemoglobinemia (met-HEEM-oh glo-bin-EE-mee-a). 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:
- a headache, tiredness, confusion;
- fast heartbeats;
- 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.
Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Americaine (Benzocaine)
Americaine Professional Information
SIDE EFFECTS
Contact dermatitis and/or hypersensitivity to benzocaine can cause burning, stinging, pruritus, tenderness, erythema, rash, urticaria and edema. Rarely, benzocaine may induce methemoglobinemia causing respiratory distress and cyanosis. Intravenous methylene blue is the specific therapy for this condition.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Americaine (Benzocaine)
© Americaine Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Americaine Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.