Local anesthetic (ester)
Benzocaine
White cream or gel
Typical Strength
5%–20% (context dependent)
Formulations
0 compounds
Formula
C₉H₁₁NO₂
Mol. Weight
165.19 g/mol
How It Works
Mechanism of action
Ester-type local anesthetic that blocks sodium channels in surface nerve endings for rapid, short-lived topical numbing. Compounded for mucosal and surface anesthesia in custom strengths.
What compounding can change
When Benzocaine is compounded for one patient, your prescriber can choose the concentration, combine it with other ingredients, and pick the base. Commercial products come in fixed strengths and bases.
Safety Considerations
Please note: Compounded medications require a prescription from a licensed prescriber for an individual patient. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality. A compounded medication is not the same as, or a generic version of, any FDA-approved drug. This page is general information, not medical advice. Your prescriber decides whether a treatment is right for you and sets the final ingredients, strength and dosage form.