FDA Says Benzocaine and Babies are Not a Good Mix

Last updated on August 6th, 2022 at 11:53 am

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to the public on Thursday about the use of benzocaine gels and liquids for mouth and gum pain in children younger than 2 years.

According to the FDA, benzocaine has the potential to cause methemoglobinemia, a rare, but serious and even fatal, condition where the amount of oxygen carried through the blood stream is greatly reduced.ย  Children under age 2 are said to be at particular risk, so the FDA recommends that parents and caregivers not administer benzocaine products to this population except under the advice and supervision of a health care professional. For more detailed information on the FDAโ€™s consumer safety announcement regarding benzocaine, click here.

Benzocaine, a local anesthetic, is the active ingredient in many OTC teething medicines. However, Boiron offers a benzocaine-free solution for painful gums and irritability associated with teething. Not only is Camilia free of benzocaine, it does not contain preservatives, flavors, dyes, sugar or artificial sweeteners.ย  Camiliaโ€™s sterile single-use doses are easy to administer to children one month of age and older, and pose no risk of overmedication or numbing of your babyโ€™s gag reflex. You can find a retailer that carries Camilia by using our handy store locator.

Stay up-to-date on serious issues like this and other baby health information by visiting our Camilia Facebook page or following us on Twitter.

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