FDA warns parents against administering benzocaine to teething babies

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned parents against administering benzocaine to their teething babies and advised them not to use it at all in children under the age of 2 years which risks in causing methemoglobinemia.

Benzocaine is a local anesthetic and can be found in over-the-counter (OTC) products such as Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel, and Orabase.

According to the FDA , the use of benzocaine gels and liquids for mouth and gum pain can lead to a rare but serious, sometimes fatal, condition called methemoglobinemia, a disorder which reduces massively the amount of oxygen carried through the blood stream.

FDA pharmacist Kellie Taylor said the agency had issued a warning about the potential dangers of drug in 2006, and following that the agency had received 29 reports of benzocaine gel-related cases of methemoglobinemia.

Taylor said that 19 of those cases occurred in the children, out of which 15 cases were reported in children under two years of age.

FDA had repeated the warning in April 2011, and continues to be particularly concerned about the OTC benzocaine products usage of in children for pain alleviation from teething problems, added Taylor.

FDA pharmacist Mary Ghods said the symptoms could occur within minutes to hours after the usage of benzocaine.

"They can occur after using the drug for the first time, as well as after several uses," said Ghods.

The agency has also cautioned that adults, who also use the benzocaine productsas gels, liquids, sprays and lozenges, are at the risk of complications relating to methemoglobinemia.