benzocaine

noun ben·zo·caine \ ˈben-zə-ˌkān \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Definition of benzocaine

: a white crystalline ester C₉H₁₁NO₂ used as a local anesthetic

Recent Examples of benzocaine from the Web

Products for adults can still contain benzocaine, but the FDA also wants companies to add additional warnings for those products going forward.

— abigail abrams, Time, "FDA Warns That Benzocaine Teething Products Are Not Safe for Children," 25 May 2018
The most common active ingredient, benzocaine, a local anesthetic, can cause a blood disease methemoglobinemia which prevents red blood cells from carrying oxygen to the baby’s body.

— Philly.com, "Why it's time to abandon teething medications," 7 June 2018
Although the condition can be inherited, some people develop it after taking certain medications, including benzocaine.

— korin miller, SELF, "The FDA Wants Benzocaine Teething Products Taken Off the Market," 24 May 2018
The agency said Wednesday that various gels containing the drug benzocaine (BEN-zoh-keyn) can cause rare but deadly side effects in children, especially those 2 years and younger.

— matthew perrone, USA TODAY, "US officials: Some teething medicines unsafe for children," 23 May 2018
The health agency is also asking that companies add warnings for adults and children age 2 and up to oral-health products containing benzocaine, a common ingredient in pain-relieving oral gels, sprays, ointments and lozenges.

— laura mcknight, NOLA.com, "Teething gels pose 'serious risk' to babies, FDA warns," 23 May 2018
In issuing the warning, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked that companies stop marketing and selling products with benzocaine for use as a pain-reliever in teething infants or children under age 2.

— laura mcknight, NOLA.com, "Teething gels pose 'serious risk' to babies, FDA warns," 23 May 2018
Additionally, rubbing medicine with benzocaine on the gums when a child is teething does not seem to help the pain any better than just rubbing the gums without medicine.

— Philly.com, "Why it's time to abandon teething medications," 7 June 2018
The Food and Drug Administration warned parents on Wednesday about the dangers of using teething products that contain the popular numbing agent benzocaine.

— abigail abrams, Time, "FDA Warns That Benzocaine Teething Products Are Not Safe for Children," 25 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'benzocaine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.