$25.24

XYLOCAINE

For safe and effective use of this medicine:

• Follow your doctor's instructions if this medicine was prescribed.
• Follow the manufacturer's package directions if you are treating yourself.
• Unless otherwise directed by your doctor, do not use this medicine on large areas, especially if the skin is broken or scraped. Also, do not use it more often than directed on the package label, or for more than a few days at a time. To do so may increase the chance of absorption through the skin and the chance of unwanted effects. This is especially important when benzocaine is used for children younger than 2 years of age.

This medicine should be used only for problems being treated by your doctor or conditions listed in the package directions. Check with your doctor before using it for other problems, especially if you think that an infection may be present. This medicine should not be used to treat certain kinds of skin infections or serious problems, such as severe burns.

Read the package label very carefully to see if the product contains any alcohol. Alcohol is flammable and can catch on fire. Do not use any product containing alcohol near a fire or open flame, or while smoking. Also, do not smoke after applying one of these products until it has completely dried.

If you are using this medicine on your face, be very careful not to get it in your eyes, mouth, or nose. If you are using an aerosol or spray form of this medicine, do not spray it directly on your face. Instead, use your hand or an applicator (for example, a sterile gauze pad or a cotton swab) to apply the medicine.

For patients using butamben:

• Butamben may stain clothing and discolor hair. It may not be possible to remove the stains. To avoid this, do not touch your clothing or your hair while applying the medicine. Also, cover the treated area with a loose bandage after applying butamben, to protect your clothes.

To use lidocaine film-forming gel (e.g., DermaFlex):

• First dry the area with a clean cloth or a piece of gauze. Then apply the medicine. The medicine should dry, forming a clear film, after about 1 minute.

Dosing

The dose of a topical anesthetic will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

For benzocaine and for benzocaine and menthol combination
• For topical dosage forms (aerosol solution, cream, lotion, ointment, and spray solution):
  • For pain and itching caused by minor skin conditions:
    • Adults and children 2 years of age and older Apply to the affected area three or four times a day as needed.
    • Children younger than 2 years of age Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For butamben
• For topical dosage form (ointment):
  • For pain and itching caused by minor skin conditions:
    • Adults Apply to the affected area three or four times a day as needed.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For dibucaine
• For topical cream dosage form:
  • For pain and itching caused by minor skin conditions:
    • Adults and children 2 years of age and older Apply to the affected area three or four times a day as needed.
    • Children up to 2 years of age Dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For topical ointment dosage form:
  • For pain and itching caused by minor skin conditions:
    • Adults Apply to the affected area three or four times a day as needed. The largest amount that may be used in a twenty-four-hour period is 30 grams, but much smaller amounts are usually enough.
    • Children 2 years of age and older Apply to the affected area three or four times a day as needed. Do not use more than 7.5 grams in a twenty-four-hour period.
    • Children up to 2 years of age Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For lidocaine
• For topical dosage forms (aerosol solution, film-forming gel, jelly, ointment, and spray solution):
  • For pain and itching caused by minor skin conditions:
    • Adults Apply to the affected area three or four times a day as needed.
    • Children Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For pramoxine and for pramoxine and menthol combination
• For topical dosage forms (cream, gel, and lotion):
  • For pain and itching caused by minor skin conditions:
    • Adults and children 2 years of age and older Apply to the affected area three or four times a day as needed.
    • Children younger than 2 years of age Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For tetracaine and for tetracaine and menthol combination
• For topical dosage forms (cream and ointment):
  • For pain and itching caused by minor skin conditions:
    • Adults and teenagers Apply to the affected area three or four times a day as needed. The largest amount that may be used in a twenty-four-hour period is 30 grams (a whole tube of the medicine), but much smaller amounts are usually enough.
    • Children 2 years of age and older Apply to the affected area three or four times a day as needed. Do not use more than 7 grams (about one-fourth of a tube of the medicine) in a twenty-four-hour period.
    • Children younger than 2 years of age Dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose

If your doctor has ordered you to use this medicine according to a regular schedule and you miss a dose, use it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regularly scheduled time.

Storage

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Keep the medicine from freezing.
• Do not puncture, break, or burn aerosol containers, even when they are empty.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

If you are using this medicine without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For topical anesthetics, the following should be considered:

Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to a local anesthetic, especially when applied to the skin or other areas of the body. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes, especially aminobenzoic acid (also called para-aminobenzoic acid [PABA]), to parabens (preservatives in many foods and medicines), or to paraphenylenediamine (a hair dye).

Pregnancy Although studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in humans, topical anesthetics have not been reported to cause problems in humans. Lidocaine has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies. Other topical anesthetics have not been studied in animals.

Breast-feeding Topical anesthetics have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children Benzocaine may be absorbed through the skin of young children and cause unwanted effects. There is no specific information comparing use of other topical anesthetics in children with use in other age groups, but it is possible that they may also cause unwanted effects in young children. Check with your doctor before using any product that contains a topical anesthetic for a child younger than 2 years of age.

Older adults Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of topical anesthetics in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

• Infection at or near the place of application or
• Large sores, broken skin, or severe injury at the area of application The chance of side effects may be increased