Weak local anaesthetic found in some throat lozenges, creams and gels. It may cause allergic hypersensitivity.
These are small tablets containing drugs mixed with sugar, gum, glycerin-jelly or fruit-paste. They are used in various affections of the mouth and throat, being sucked and slowly dissolved by the saliva, which brings the drugs they contain into contact with the affected surface. Some of the substances used in lozenges are benzalkonium (disinfectant), benzocaine (analgesic), betamethasone (corticosteroid), bismuth (disinfectant), formaldehyde (disinfectant), hydrocortisone (corticosteroid), liquorice, and penicillin (antibiotic).... lozenges
Methaemoglobinaemia is a condition due to the presence in the blood of METHAEMOGLOBIN. It is characterised by CYANOSIS which turns the skin and lips a blue colour, shortness of breath, headache, fatigue and sickness. There are two main forms: a hereditary form and a toxic form. The latter is caused by certain drugs, including acetanilide, phenacetin, the sulphonamides and benzocaine. The treatment of the toxic form is the withdrawal of the causative drug. In the more severe cases the administration of methylene blue or ascorbic acid may also be needed, and these are the drugs used in the hereditary form.... methaemoglobinaemia
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