If you’ve ever had a dental abscess, you know that while you won’t be able to feel your mouth for a few hours, you’ll be spared the agony of the drilling. That numbing medicine might be one of several different medications. These drugs are known as topical anesthetics. Lidocaine and benzocaine are examples of local anesthetics.
Lidocaine vs Benzocaine
The main difference between Lidocaine and Benzocaine is that The two most popular types of localized anesthetics are lidocaine and benzocaine. Both deaden the skin surface without causing unconsciousness. They are commonly utilized in painful procedures such as piercing and surgical procedures. Despite serving a similar purpose, they vary widely in terms of potency, framework, and reliability. Each anesthetic has unique properties that make it suited for certain treatments.
Lidocaine is administered as an intravenous infusion as well as a topical (given directly to the affected area) therapy. Topical lidocaine comes in a variety of forms, including cream, urethane, and patches. Lidocaine injections are commonly used to numb the face and lessen discomfort throughout dental operations. A sticky solution of lidocaine is being used to treat painful mouths and throats, as well as to reduce choking.
Benzocaine is indeed available in dermal and injectable forms. Benzocaine injection is used to sedate the face and lessen discomfort throughout dental treatments. Benzocaine gel or cream is used to relieve pain and suffering caused by sunburn, teething, abscessed toenails, and hemorrhoids. It could also be utilized to relieve discomfort or pain throughout medical interventions.
Comparison Table Between Lidocaine and Benzocaine
| Parameters of Comparison | Lidocaine | Benzocaine |
| Effective | When it refers to numbing the surface for crucial activities involving tattooing, and surgical operations, lidocaine is efficacious than benzocaine. | Because of its low strength, benzocaine is ideal for mucous membranes such as lips and anus. |
| Structure | Lidocaine, because of its heterocyclic chain, is an amide anesthetic that may be destroyed down by the digestive system. | The chemical compositions of lidocaine and benzocaine vary. Benzocaine is a kind of ester anesthetic. |
| Efficiency | Lidocaine is a strong numbing compound than benzocaine. Based on research, 2% lidocaine is the closest approximation of 20% benzocaine. | Benzocaine has a lower blistering effect than Lidocaine. |
| Uses | Lidocaine is great for tattooing, piercing, and other similar procedures. | Benzocaine is a non-addictive numbing substance. It is used to reduce the discomfort produced by the implantation of medical instruments. |
| Side effects | Typical adverse effects include skin irritation, burning, and difficulty respiration. | Same side effects as lidocaine. Contact your doctor if an unpleasant impact or symptom continues. |
What is Lidocaine?
Lidocaine is used to treat nerve discomfort caused by shingles (infection with the herpes zoster virus). This is referred to as post-herpetic neuralgia. Lidocaine relieves sharp sensation as well as discomfort produced by excessively sensitive skin regions. Lidocaine is a kind of medication known as a local anesthetic. It works by producing a transient lack of sensation in the region where the patch is applied.
Lidocaine interacts moderately with at least 62 distinct medications. At least 28 distinct medications have minor interactions with lidocaine. This material does not cover all of the potential interactions or side effects. As a result, before consuming this medication, inform your doctor or physician of all the products you are currently consuming. Keep a list of all your prescriptions on hand and discuss it with your surgeon and pharmacist.
For more medicinal counsel, or if you possess health issues, concerns, or want more understanding about this drug, consult your health care provider or doctor. If your primary care physician has prescribed this medicine, your medical professional may already be aware of any potential drug combinations and maybe keep an eye out for them. Do not start, stop, or modify the dosage of any medication without first consulting your doctor, healthcare professional, or pharmacist.
What is Benzocaine?
Benzocaine ointment is being used to treat small skin annoyances, pharyngitis, rashes, intestinal irritation, abscessed toenails, hemorrhoids, and a variety of other sources of mild pain on the exterior of the cell. Benzocaine can also be applied to numb the epidermis or surfaces within the mouth, nasal, esophagus or abdomen to alleviate the discomfort of putting a medical tool such as a tube or ultrasound wand.
Benzocaine topical should never be used to address newborn teething discomfort and is not recommended for usage in children under the age of two. There are several brands and kinds of benzocaine topical on the market. This leaflet does not include all brands. When benzocaine topical is applied to the skin, it might produce a situation in which the respiration in your body tissues becomes dangerously low. Methemoglobinemia is an extremely lethal disorder. If you’ve ever had methemoglobinemia, don’t consume benzocaine topical.
If you already have experienced methemoglobinemia in the past, never use benzocaine lotion. Benzocaine topical should not be used on children under the age of two. A numbing drug overload can be dangerous if too much of the pharmaceutical is transmitted through your scalp and into your bloodstream. This is possible if you inject more than the appropriate dose.
Main Differences Between Lidocaine and Benzocaine
- Lidocaine is used as an intravenous infusion as well as a topical treatment. Benzocaine is available in injectable formulations. Benzocaine syringe is used to numb the face and reduce discomfort during dental procedures.
- When it comes to numbing the skin for crucial activities like tattooing, piercing, and minimally invasive incisions, lidocaine outperforms benzocaine. Because of its low strength, benzocaine is ideal for mucous membranes
- Because of its amide chain, lidocaine is an amide anesthetic that may be destroyed down by the liver. Benzocaine is a kind of ester anesthetic.
- Lidocaine is said to be a more potent numbing substance than benzocaine. According to one research, 2% lidocaine is the equivalent of 20% benzocaine. Benzocaine has a lower numbing effect than Lidocaine.
- Lidocaine is great for tattooing and other similar procedures. However, it should not be used on soft tissues such as the tongue. Benzocaine is a non-addictive numbing agent. It is used to reduce the discomfort produced by the insertion of medical instruments.
Conclusion
This study shows that, whereas topical anesthetics are generally regarded safe, certain people have unanticipated high absorption percentages. This also shows that the volume of lidocaine, the formulation of the medicine, and the particular patient all have a substantial influence on lidocaine serum levels. To minimize harmful consequences, the authors propose that even topical anesthetics be used under the guidance of a healthcare practitioner.
The efficiency of lidocaine and benzocaine in alleviating discomfort caused by surgical intervention into the palate was tested in a double-blind and more appropriate technique. Subjects reported the level of their discomfort on a visual analog scale instantly after each injection. Lidocaine and benzocaine have both been equally effective in relieving discomfort produced by syringe insertion, and both performed superior to placebo.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc2148990/
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207450590520948