BENZOCANE

Brand Names : Aethoform; Americaine; Anesthesin; Anesthone; Orthesin; Parathesin.

Benzocaine has the chemical characters of an ester and a base. The amino group attached to aromatic ring can be diazotized. The diazonium salt so prepared couples with 2-naphthol in alkaline solution to give an orange-red azo-dye.

Benzocaine is a colourless, odourless crystalline powder, m.p. 88-929; stable in air; slightly soluble in water (1 in 2500), soluble in alcohol (1 in 8), chloroform (1 in 2), ether (1 in 4), dilute acids, almond oil or olive oil. Benzocaine is destroyed when boiled with water. It forms a water soluble complex with caffeine which is less hydrolyzed in comparison to benzocaine. Benzocaine hydrochloride is too irritant since aqueous solutions are extensively hydrolyzed to an acid reaction.

Benzocaine is stored in well-closed containers and protected from light.

Uses :

1.     Benzocaine is a local anaesthetic used for the local relief of pain associated with dental conditions, sore throats, haemorrhoids, anal pruritus, and earpain.

2.      It has also been used for pain relief in minor cuts, scrapes, burns and sunburn, muscular pains, strains, and sprains. Benzocaine is used in creams, ointments, lotions, gels, solutions, and suppositories in concentrations up to 20% for topical analgesia and anaesthesia.