Benzocaine is a local anesthetic (numbing medication). It works by blocking nerve
signals in your body.
Benzocaine otic is used to treat pain, itching, and irritation caused by infection or injury
of the ear. Benzocaine will not treat the infection.
Benzocaine otic may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking benzocaine otic?
Before using benzocaine otic, tell your doctor if you have any allergies.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether benzocaine otic passes into breast milk or if it could harm a
nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a
baby.
How should I take benzocaine otic?
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in
larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Use this medicine only in
the affected ear. You may not need to use it in both ears.
Wash your hands before using this medicine.
To use the ear drops, first remove the cap from the dropper bottle. Lie down or tilt your
head with your ear facing upward. Pull back on your ear gently to open up the ear canal. Hold
the dropper upside down over your ear canal and drop the correct number of ear drops into the
ear.
Do not place the dropper tip into your ear, or allow the tip to touch any surface. It
may become contaminated.
After using the ear drops, stay lying down or with your head tilted for at least 2 minutes.
You may use a small piece of cotton to plug the ear and keep the medicine from draining out.
Follow your doctor's instructions about the use of cotton.
Wipe the tip of the medicine bottle with a clean tissue. Do not wash the dropper tip with
water or soap.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse during the first few
days of treatment with benzocaine otic.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of benzocaine otic?
Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip
the missed dose and use the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about benzocaine otic?
Your pharmacist has information about benzocaine otic written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of benzocaine otic?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call you doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
skin rash;
severe itching or burning in your ear; or
pain, redness, or swelling of your ear.
Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as mild
stinging, burning, or irritation in the ear.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any
unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about benzocaine otic?
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use it in larger amounts
or for longer than recommended by your doctor.
Before using benzocaine otic, tell your doctor if you have any allergies.
If you miss a dose, use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for
the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose.
Do
not
use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Do not place the dropper tip into your ear, or allow the tip to touch any surface. It
may become contaminated. Wipe the tip of the medicine bottle with a clean tissue. Do not wash
the dropper tip with water or soap.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse during the first few
days of treatment with benzocaine otic.
Stop using this medication and get emergency medical help if you think you have
used too much medicine, or if you have any of these
signs of an allergic reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Less serious side effects are more likely, and you may have none at all. Talk to your
doctor about unusual or bothersome any side effect.
What should I avoid while taking benzocaine otic?
Avoid swimming until your ear infection has completely cleared up.
Do not use other ear drops unless your doctor has told you to.
What other drugs will affect benzocaine otic?
It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on benzocaine
otic. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell your doctor about all your prescription
and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by
other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of benzocaine otic?
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate,
up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not
a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug
interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009