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A 42-year-old member asked:

What is the difference between aneshtetic benzocaine, lidocaine, prilocaine, and xylocaine creams?

1 doctor answer1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Karen Sibert
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Similar: All of these are topical anesthetics, meaning that they can be applied directly to skin or mucous membranes to treat minor pain such as teething or scrapes, or itching from poison ivy or insect bites. Xylocaine is the same thing as lidocaine. All can be toxic if used in excessive doses. Special care must be taken if any of these are used for small children. Some types are by prescription only.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Similar questions

A 45-year-old member asked:

What's the difference between topical aneshtetic creams like benzocaine, lidocaine, prilocaine, and xylocaine?

1 doctor answer1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Karen Sibert
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Similar: All of these are topical anesthetics, meaning that they can be applied directly to skin or mucous membranes to treat minor pain such as teething or scrapes, or itching from poison ivy or insect bites. Xylocaine is the same thing as lidocaine. All can be toxic if used in excessive doses. Special care must be taken if any of these are used for small children. Some types are by prescription only.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

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Last updated Dec 19, 2012

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