Pregnancy & Benzocaine

Benzocaine is a medication that was developed to reduce pain in an anesthetic manner. It is used in topical applications (directly on the skin) for temporary relief of irritations of dermal areas, including the throat, gums, anus and the vagina. It is also used to treat middle ear irritation that may occur as a result of infection. There are several different manufactured pain relief products that contain varying levels of benzocaine.

Normal Use

• The most common use of benzocaine is to numb an irritated area. Products have been developed that include benzocaine for the treatment of sore gums, sore throats, hemorrhoids and vaginal discomfort. Benzocaine derivatives are used in many different over-the-counter medications, such as Orajel products, for the treatment of gum soreness and other dental pain. Lanocain is another pain remedy containing benzocaine that has general topical applications.

General Side Effects

• Proper application of benzocaine is not generally known to cause harmful side effects. Following manufacturers' instructions is recommended at all times. However, side effects that may occur from the use of benzocaine include, but are not limited to: soreness, irritation or swelling in the treated area; nausea and vomiting; labored breathing; fever and headache; methemoglobinemia (a condition that decreases the red blood cells' ability to carry oxygen).

Side Effects of Benzocaine Use During Pregnancy

• Harmful side effects from the use of any of these products during pregnancy have been studied through scientific research. Generally, findings from these studies do not indicate any conclusive evidence that the use of benzocaine, following specific guidelines recommended by the manufacturer, will pose any dangers during pregnancy. The findings of these separate studies generally agree that any use of benzocaine during pregnancy should be under a doctor's guidelines.

Other Opinions

• There are, however, dissenting views that question the safety of using this product when a woman is pregnant. While the dangers posed when using benzocaine during pregnancy in humans are stated to be inconclusive, findings of scientific studies did report adverse effects on animals, including incidences of increased levels of toxicity. These findings have created some consternation about the use of benzocaine for women who are pregnant.

Conclusions

• The use of any product that contains medicine that alters the biological balances in a pregnant woman's body, including hormone treatments, dietary supplements and pain medications, should be discussed with a qualified medical professional. While benzocaine has not shown any conclusive evidence of being harmful during pregnancy, the admitted side effects from improper use may be considered as sufficient cause for careful use of this product.