Benzocaine

Description for Benzocaine

Benzocaine (ethyl p-aminobenzoate) is used topically by itself or in combination with menthol or phenol in nonprescription dosage forms such as gels, creams, ointments, lotions, aerosols, and lozenges to relieve pain or irritation caused by such conditions as sunburn, insect bites, toothache, teething, cold sores or canker sores in or around the mouth, and fever blisters. Benzocaine is a lipophilic local anesthetic agent with a short duration of action.
Like most amino ester-type local anesthetics, it is easily hydrolyzed by plasma cholinesterase. Because of its low pKa, however, it is un-ionized under most physiological conditions and, therefore, can only bind to the lipid side of the local anesthetic receptor. It also can easily cross membranes into systemic circulation to cause systemic toxicities. Furthermore, being a PABA derivative, it has similar allergenic properties to procaine and is contraindicated with sulfonamide antibacterial agents.

Uses

Local and topical anesthetic used in products such as burn and sunburn remedies, hemorrhoidal creams, suppositories, creams for treatment of poison ivy, oral and gingival products, sore-throat sprays/lozenges, astringents, appetite suppressants, callus and wart remedies, athlete's-foot remedies, toothache- and denture-irritation products.

RELATED PRODUCTS:

Lidocaine                         CAS  137-58-6

Benzocaine                      CAS 94-09-7

Tetracaine                        CAS 94-24-6

Procaine                           CAS 59-46-1

Lidocaine hydrochloride   CAS 73-78-9

Tetracaine hydrochloride  CAS 136-47-0