Benzocaine Topical Dosage

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 21, 2023.

Usual Adult Dose for Anesthesia

Benzocaine topical 20% mucous membrane spray:
Awake intubation, oral airway, bronchoscopy: Apply 1/2 second burst to buccal folds. Instruct patient to swallow several times. Wait 1 minute, then begin procedure.
Upper endoscopy: Apply 1/2 second burst to each buccal fold and instruct patient to swallow several times. Wait 30 seconds, then insert scope.
Esophageal motility: Apply no longer than 1/2 second burst to each naris. Wait 30 to 60 seconds, then insert transducer.
Indirect laryngoscopy, head and neck examinations: Spray 1/2 second burst to each buccal fold, instruct patient to swallow several times. Wait 30 to 60 seconds before initiating procedure.
Arch bar removal: Spray affected area for no longer than 1/2 second. Wait 30 to 60 seconds, then remove arch bar.
Stomatitis, mucositis, pharyngitis, thrush, cancer of throat: Apply topically to affected area(s) as needed.

Benzocaine topical 20% mucous membrane gel:
Awake intubation, oral airway, bronchoscopy: Apply a small amount to naris prior to nasal intubation.
Proctoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy: Apply topically to rectal area, wait 30 to 60 seconds then initiate procedure.
Stomatitis, mucositis, pharyngitis, thrush, cancer of throat: Apply topically to affected area(s) as needed.

Benzocaine topical 20% mucous membrane liquid:
Esophageal motility: Tilt the patient's head back and drip 2 to 3 drops into the naris prior to inserting the transducer.
Indirect laryngoscopy, head and neck examinations: Gargle 1 teaspoonful for approximately 15 seconds, then spit remaining out. Wait 30 to 60 seconds, then initiate procedure.
Nasal biopsies: Tilt patient's head back and drip 2 to 3 drops into each naris. Wait 30 to 60 seconds, then initiate procedure.
Stomatitis, mucositis, pharyngitis, thrush, cancer of throat: Apply topically to affected area(s) as needed.

Benzocaine topical 20% mucous membrane swab:
Nasal biopsies: Apply topically to naris. Wait 30 to 60 seconds, then initiate procedure.

Benzocaine topical 10% to 15% mucous membrane gel: Apply topically to affected area(s) of mouth and gums up to 4 times daily.

Benzocaine topical 10% mucous membrane powder for reconstitution:
Oral mucositis aphthous ulcers, cancer sores, stomatitis, oral lesions and tissue injury caused by ill fitting dentures and gum disease, and oral problems associated with HIV: Apply topically to affected area(s) of mouth and gums every 4 to 6 hours, not to exceed four doses daily.

Benzocaine topical oral lozenge:
Sore throat pain, mouth pain: 1 lozenge dissolved in mouth every 2 hours as needed.

Usual Adult Dose for Hemorrhoids

Benzocaine topical 20% rectal ointment: After cleansing area with soap and water, apply externally to affected area(s) as needed up to 6 times a day.

Usual Adult Dose for Pain

Benzocaine topical 20% gel:
Sunburn: Apply to affected area as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical 20% spray:
Sunburn, pain, insect bites, pruritus: Hold container approximately 6 to 12 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine topical 20% cream:
Sunburn, pain, pruritus, insect bites, poison ivy: Apply to affected area as needed not more than 1 to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine topical ointment:
Insect bites: Apply topically to affected area(s) as needed.

Benzocaine topical 20% liquid:
Pain: Apply to affected area(s) as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical 5% spray:
Sunburn, pain, insect bites, pruritus: Hold container approximately 10 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine topical cream:
Pruritus, sunburn, insect bites, pain: Apply sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 or 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical spray:
Sunburn, pruritus: Hold container approximately 4 to 6 inches from skin and spray sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine sore throat lozenges:
Dissolve 1 lozenge slowly in the mouth every 2 hours as needed.

Usual Adult Dose for Pruritus

Benzocaine topical 20% gel:
Sunburn: Apply to affected area as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical 20% spray:
Sunburn, pain, insect bites, pruritus: Hold container approximately 6 to 12 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine topical 20% cream:
Sunburn, pain, pruritus, insect bites, poison ivy: Apply to affected area as needed not more than 1 to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine topical ointment:
Insect bites: Apply topically to affected area(s) as needed.

Benzocaine topical 20% liquid:
Pain: Apply to affected area(s) as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical 5% spray:
Sunburn, pain, insect bites, pruritus: Hold container approximately 10 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine topical cream:
Pruritus, sunburn, insect bites, pain: Apply sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 or 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical spray:
Sunburn, pruritus: Hold container approximately 4 to 6 inches from skin and spray sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine sore throat lozenges:
Dissolve 1 lozenge slowly in the mouth every 2 hours as needed.

Usual Adult Dose for Burns - External

Benzocaine topical 20% gel:
Sunburn: Apply to affected area as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical 20% spray:
Sunburn, pain, insect bites, pruritus: Hold container approximately 6 to 12 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine topical 20% cream:
Sunburn, pain, pruritus, insect bites, poison ivy: Apply to affected area as needed not more than 1 to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine topical ointment:
Insect bites: Apply topically to affected area(s) as needed.

Benzocaine topical 20% liquid:
Pain: Apply to affected area(s) as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical 5% spray:
Sunburn, pain, insect bites, pruritus: Hold container approximately 10 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine topical cream:
Pruritus, sunburn, insect bites, pain: Apply sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 or 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical spray:
Sunburn, pruritus: Hold container approximately 4 to 6 inches from skin and spray sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine sore throat lozenges:
Dissolve 1 lozenge slowly in the mouth every 2 hours as needed.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Anesthesia

Greater than or equal to 2 years to 18 years:
Benzocaine topical 10% mucous membrane gel:
Toothache, sore gums, canker sores: Apply topically to affected area(s) up to 4 times daily. A cotton swab may be helpful when applying to young children.

Greater than or equal to 5 years to 18 years:
Benzocaine topical oral lozenge:
Sore throat pain, mouth pain: 1 lozenge dissolved in mouth every 2 hours as needed.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Hemorrhoids

Greater than or equal to 2 years to 18 years:
Benzocaine topical 20% rectal ointment: Apply externally to affected area up to 6 times a day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Pain

Greater than or equal to 2 years to 18 years:

Benzocaine Topical 20% Gel:
Sunburn: Apply to affected area as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine Topical 20% Spray:
Sunburn, pain, insect bites, pruritus: Hold container 6 to 12 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine topical 20% cream:
Sunburn, pain, pruritus, insect bites, poison ivy: Apply to affected area as needed not more than 1 to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine Topical 20% Liquid:
Pain: Apply to affected area(s) as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine Topical 5% Topical Spray:
Sunburn, pain, pruritus, insect bites, minor abrasions: Hold container 6 to 12 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine Topical - Topical Cream:
Pruritus, sunburn, insect bites, pain: Apply sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 or 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical - topical spray:
Sunburn, pruritus: Hold 4 to 6 inches from skin and spray sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine sore throat lozenges:
Children 5 years and older:
Dissolve 1 lozenge slowly in the mouth every 2 hours as needed.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Pruritus

Greater than or equal to 2 years to 18 years:

Benzocaine Topical 20% Gel:
Sunburn: Apply to affected area as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine Topical 20% Spray:
Sunburn, pain, insect bites, pruritus: Hold container 6 to 12 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine topical 20% cream:
Sunburn, pain, pruritus, insect bites, poison ivy: Apply to affected area as needed not more than 1 to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine Topical 20% Liquid:
Pain: Apply to affected area(s) as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine Topical 5% Topical Spray:
Sunburn, pain, pruritus, insect bites, minor abrasions: Hold container 6 to 12 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine Topical - Topical Cream:
Pruritus, sunburn, insect bites, pain: Apply sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 or 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical - topical spray:
Sunburn, pruritus: Hold 4 to 6 inches from skin and spray sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine sore throat lozenges:
Children 5 years and older:
Dissolve 1 lozenge slowly in the mouth every 2 hours as needed.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Burns - External

Greater than or equal to 2 years to 18 years:

Benzocaine Topical 20% Gel:
Sunburn: Apply to affected area as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine Topical 20% Spray:
Sunburn, pain, insect bites, pruritus: Hold container 6 to 12 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine topical 20% cream:
Sunburn, pain, pruritus, insect bites, poison ivy: Apply to affected area as needed not more than 1 to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine Topical 20% Liquid:
Pain: Apply to affected area(s) as needed up to 4 times a day.

Benzocaine Topical 5% Topical Spray:
Sunburn, pain, pruritus, insect bites, minor abrasions: Hold container 6 to 12 inches from skin and spray on affected area(s) until wet as needed up to 4 times a day. When applying to facial area spray into palm of hand, then rub on face avoiding area around eyes.

Benzocaine Topical - Topical Cream:
Pruritus, sunburn, insect bites, pain: Apply sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 or 4 times a day.

Benzocaine topical - topical spray:
Sunburn, pruritus: Hold 4 to 6 inches from skin and spray sparingly to affected area(s) as needed up to 3 times a day.

Benzocaine sore throat lozenges:
Children 5 years and older:
Dissolve 1 lozenge slowly in the mouth every 2 hours as needed.

Renal Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Precautions

Benzocaine topical is considered contraindicated in patients with congenital or idiopathic methemoglobinemia.

Benzocaine should not be used in infants less than 12 months of age who are receiving treatment with methemoglobin- inducing agents.

Benzocaine topical is for external use only, and is not intended to be used in or near the eyes.

Benzocaine crystals may appear as a white precipitate following topical application.

Do not apply in large quantities or over large, raw, or blistered areas,

Benzocaine topical is not intended for use on deep or puncture wounds, or serious burns.

Instruct patients to avoid eating for approximately 1 hour following topical application to oral mucosa.

Safety and effectiveness of benzocaine sore throat lozenges have not been established in children less than 5 years of age.

Dialysis

Data not available

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer