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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