The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to the public on Thursday, May 31, 2012, 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. 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 FDA’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. Camilia’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 baby’s gag reflex. You can find a retailer that carries Camilia by using our handy store locator.
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