Preparedness Uses for Benzocaine

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on knowledge and understanding you might wish to acquire in advance of a disaster in case no higher care is available.  As long as our society is functioning, you should leave anything more substantial than applying a Band-Aid to the professionals.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care. 

Benzocaine is a topical, local anesthetic available over-the-counter in several forms for various applications.  It works by temporarily blocking signals that nerves send to the brain, halting the pain sensation.  It does nothing to address the cause of the pain or treat the condition.  Medical personnel use benzocaine to aid the insertion of medical devices, including breathing and feeding tubes. 

Benzocaine is sold under the following brand names to treat various conditions and should be used for a limited period of time, depending on the condition, before seeking professional care:

• Throat and mouth pain (sore throat, 2 days; toothache, 7 days)
• Anbesol
• Toothaches
• Cepacol
• Sore throat
• Chloraseptic
• Sore throat
• Kank-A
• Canker sores, cold sores, fever blisters
• Orajel
• Toothaches
• External vaginal itching (7 days)
• Vagisil
• Irritated skin (7-10 days)
• Lanacane 
• Insect bites
• Poison ivy, oak, sumac
• Sunburn 
• Hemorrhoids (7-10 days)
• Americaine

So after reading all this, you may be wondering whether this is an item to include in your medical supplies.  Benzocaine is readily available in grocery stores and pharmacies and is used in so many ways.  However, it doesn't even merit a passing reference in most off-grid medicine guides, none that I possess, anyway.  Why is that?  There are a couple of reasons.  The first is that benzocaine is only blocking the pain, and doing nothing to treat the cause of the pain.  Secondly, everything it treats can be managed with other medications in the kit that have broader applications. Still, because benzocaine is widely available and used in so many products, we should know how it can be used, and we especially need to be aware of potential complications that may arise.

Side effects:  Discontinue use immediately and seek medical care if any of the following occurs:

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat

• Pale blue or gray skin, lips, or fingernails (cyanosis)
• Headache
• Rapid heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness, lightheadedness
• Fatigue, lack of energy

The first set includes symptoms of an allergic reaction.  The second set lists symptoms of methemoglobinemia, a serious medical condition in which the amount of oxygen in the blood is drastically reduced.  Both conditions may arise even if the patient has previously used the product without incident and both require prompt professional treatment.

Cautions:  Discontinue use if condition worsens or does not improve within 7 days.  Do not use near an open flame.  Do not get it in the eyes.  Do not apply to open wounds or serious burns.  Do not swallow.  Use only the minimum amount needed to effect relief.

Contraindications:  Do not use oral products in children under 2 years.  Do not use vaginal and hemorrhoid products in children under the age of 12 years without consulting with a physician.  Do not use if you are allergic to any "-caine" anesthetics such as lidocaine, novocaine, butacaine, etc.

References:
https://www.drugs.com/mtm/benzocaine-topical.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzocaine
https://www.drugwatch.com/benzocaine/
https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-benzocaine.htm
https://www.knowyourotcs.org/ingredient/benzocaine/  11.08.20