Monograph: Male Genital Desensitizers

Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable document format (PDF), Microsoft word and PowerPoint (PPT) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.

(PDF version - 72 K)

Get Adobe® Reader®

This monograph is intended to serve as a guide to industry for the preparation of Product Licence Applications (PLAs) and labels for natural health product market authorization. It is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the medicinal ingredient. Notes: (i) Text in parentheses is additional optional information which can be included on the PLA and product label at the applicant's discretion. (ii) The solidus (/) indicates that the terms and/or the statements are synonymous. Either term or statement may be selected by the applicant.

Date: 2019-08-05

NHPID name

Benzocaine ( O'Neil et al. 2012 )

Proper name(s)

4-Aminobenzoic acid, ethyl ester ( Merck 2012 )

Common name(s)

Benzocaine ( Merck 2012 , CTFA 2008 , USP 35 )

Source material

para-Aminobenzoic acid (Merck 2012, CTFA 2008)

Route Of administration

Topical

Dosage form(s)

Those pharmaceutical dosage forms suited to topical administration. Metered dose and chlorofluorcarbons (CFCs)-based aerosols/aerosol sprays and metered-dose pump sprays are unacceptable dosage forms.

Use(s) or purpose(s)

Statement(s) to the effect of:

For reducing oversensitivity in advance of intercourse. (US FDA 1992)
For temporary male genital desensitisation to reduce oversensitivity in advance of intercourse and help slow the onset of ejaculation.
For temporary male genital desensitisation, helping to slow the onset of ejaculation. (US FDA 1992)
Helps in temporarily retarding the onset of ejaculation/temporarily slowing the onset of ejaculation/temporarily prolonging the time until ejaculation. (US FDA 1992)
Helps in the prevention of premature ejaculation. (US FDA 1992)

Dose(s)

Adults:

Dose(s):

1 Day per day

Directions for use:

Apply a small amount to head and shaft of penis 5-10 minutes before intercourse, or use as directed by a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/ physician. ( CPhA 1996 , US FDA 1992 )
Use smallest amount possible to achieve desired result.
Wash product off after intercourse. ( CPhA 1996 , US FDA 1992 )
Wipe off any excess gel before commencing intercourse. ( CPhA 1996 )

Duration of use

No statement is required

Risk information

Statement(s) to the effect of:

Caution(s) and Warning(s):

For external use only.
Keep out of reach of children.
Premature ejaculation may be due to a condition requiring medical supervision. Stop use and consult a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/ physician if this product, used as directed, does not provide relief. (US FDA 1992)
When using this product avoid contact with eyes. If contact occurs, rinse thoroughly with water.

Contraindication(s): Stop use and consult a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/ physician if the following symptoms appear: weakness, confusion, headache, difficulty breathing and/or pale, gray or blue coloured skin. These symptoms may be signs of methemoglobinemia, a rare disorder, which may appear up to 2 hours after use. (HC 2011a, HC 2011b) Known Adverse Reaction(s): Stop use if hypersensitivity/allergy occurs. (HC 2011a, HC 2011b, US FDA 1992)

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural health products ingredients database and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Specifications

The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the NHPD Quality of natural health products guide.
The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the Natural health products ingredient database (NHPID).
The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the Natural Health Products Ingredients Database (NHPID). In addition, the medicinal ingredient may comply with the specifications outlined in the pharmacopoeial monographs: "Benzocaine" in the British Pharmacopoeia(BP), "Benzocaine" in the European Pharmacopoeia(Ph. Eur.) as well as "Benzocaine", "Benzocaine cream", "Benzocaine gel", "Benzocaine topical solution" and "Benzocaine topical aerosol" in the United States (USP) Pharmacopoeias.

References cited

BP 2012: British Pharmacopoeia 2012. London (GB): The Stationary Office on behalf of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA); 2011.
CPhA 1996: Carruthers-Czyzewski P, Gillis C, Letwin D, editors. Nonprescription Drug Reference for Health Professionals. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Pharmaceutical Association; 1996.
CTFA 2008: Gottschalck TE, Bailey JE, editors. International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook. 12th edition. Washington (DC): Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association; 2008.
HC 2011a: Health Canada 2011. Health risks associated with the use of topical benzocaine products. Internal document. [Available on Request.]
HC 2011b : Health Canada reminds Canadians of health risks associated with topical benzocaine products. About Health Canada, Information update, Canada Vigilance Program, Marketed Health Products Directorate [Date modified : 2011-04-19; Accessed : 2012 July 10]. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2011/2011_59-fra.php
Martindale 2010: Sweetman SC, editor. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference. 37th edition [Internet]. London (GB): Pharmaceutical Press; 2010. [benzocaine: ethyl 4-aminobenzoate, CAS: 94-09-7, 20101127; Accessed 2012 July 30]. Available from: http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/
Merck 2012: O'Neil MJ, Heckelman PE, Koch CB, Roman KJ, editors. The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals (14th Edition - Version 14.9). Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.; 2006, 2012. Available from: http://www.knovel.com/
Ph.Eur. 2012: European Pharmacopoeia. 7th edition. Strasbourg (FR): Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and HealthCare of the Council of Europe (EDQM), 2012.
US FDA 1992: US Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration. 21 CFR Part 348. [Docket No. 78N-0301]. Male Genital Desensitizing Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use; Final Monograph. ACTION: Final Rule; DATES: This final rule is effective June 19, 1993 [Internet]. Federal Register, Volume 57, Number 119, June 19, 1993. [Accessed 2011 December 8]. Available from: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/DevelopmentResources/Over-the-CounterOTCDrugs/StatusofOTCRulemakings/UCM078147.pdf
USP 35: United States Pharmacopeia and the National Formulary (USP 35 - NF 30). Rockville (MD): The United States Pharmacopeial Convention; 2012.
USP DI 2006: Drug Information for the Health Care Professional. 26th edition, Volume 1. Greenwood Village (CO): Thomson Micromedex; 2006.

References reviewed

Abu-Laban RB, Zed PJ, Purssell RA, Evans KG. Severe methemoglobinemia from topical anesthetic spray: case report, discussion and qualitative systematic review. Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine 2001;3(1):51-56.
Ash-Bernal R, Wise R, Wright SM. Acquired methemoglobinemia. A retrospective series. Medicine 2004;83(5):265-273.
Balicer RD, Kitai E. Methemoglobinemia caused by topical teething preparation: a case report. Scientific World Journal 2004 July 15;4:517-520.
Barker SJ, Tremper KK, Hyatt J. Effects of methemoglobinemia on pulse oximetry and mixed venous oximetry. Anesthesiology 1989;70(1):112-117.
Benzocaine Topical Products: Sprays, Gels and Liquids - Risk of Methemoglobinemia. [Posted 04/07/2011] U.S. Food and Drug Administration MedWatch The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. [Internet]. [Accessed 2011 December 21]. Available from: http://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch/safetyinformation/safetyalertsforhumanmedicalproducts/ucm250264.htm
Birchem SK. Benzocane-induced methemoglobinemia during transesophageal echocardiography. Journal of the American Osteopathic Association 2005;105(8)381-384.
Chung N-Y, Batra R, Itzkevitch M, Borochov D, Balduf M. Severe methemoglobinemia linked to gel-type topical benzocaine use: a case report. The Journal of Emergency Medicine 2010;38(5):601-606.
Clary B, Skaryak L, Tedder M, Hilton A, Botz G, Harpole D. Methemoglobinemia complicating topical an esthesia during bronchoscopic procedures. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 1997;114(2):203-205.
Dahshan A, Donovan K. Severe methemoglobinemia complicating topical benzocaine use during endoscopy in a toddler: a case report and review of the literature. Pediatrics 2006;117(4):e806-809.
Darracq M, Daubert P. A cyanotic toddler. Pediatric Emergency Care 2007;23(3):195-199.
Dinneen SF, Mohr DN, Fairbanks BF. Methemoglobinemia from topically applied anesthetic spray. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 1994:69(9);886-889.
Douglas WW, Fairbanks VF. Methemoglobinemia induced by a topical anesthetic spray (cetacaine). Chest 1977;71(5)587-591.
El-Husseini A, Azarov N. Is threshold for treatment of methemoglobinemia the same for all? A case report and literature review. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine 2010;28(6):748.e5-748.e10.
Fisher MA, Henry D, Gillam L, Chen C. Toxic methemoglobinemia: A rare but serious complication of transesophageal echocardiography. Canadian Journal of Cardiology 1998;14(9):1157-1160.
Grauer SE, Giraud GD. Toxic methemoglobinemia after topical anesthesia for transesophageal echocardiography. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography 1996;9(6):874-876.
Gray TA and Hawkins S. A PACU crisis: A case study on the development and management of methemoglobnemia. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing 2004;19(4):242-253.
Guay J. Methemoglobinemia related to local anesthetics: A summary of 242 episodes. Anesthesia & Analgesia 2009;108(3):837-845.
Health Canada advises Canadians of health risks involved with using benzocaine. About Health Canada, Advisory 2006-115 November 24, 2006. [Internet]. [Accessed 2011 December 21]. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2006/2006_115-eng.php
Khorasani A, Candido KD, Ghaleb AH, Saatee S, Appavu SK.Canister tip orientation and residual volume have significant impact on the dose of benzocaine delivered by Hurricane spray. Anesthesia & Analgesia 2001;92:379-383.
Moore TJ, Walsh CS, Cohen MR. Reported adverse event cases of methemoglobinemia associated with benzocaine products. Archives of Internal Medicine 2004 June 14;164:1192-1196.
Nguyen, ST, Cabrales RE, Bashour CA, Rosenberger TE Jr, Michener JA, Yared J-P, Starr NJ. Benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia, Anesthesia & Analgesia 2000;90(2):369-371.
O'Donohue WJ Jr, Moss LM, Angelillo VA. Acute methemoglobinemia induced by topical benzocaine and lidocaine. Archives of Internal Medicine 1980;140(11):1508-1510.
Olson Ml, McEvoy GK. Methemoglobinemia induced by local anesthetics. American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 1981;38(1):89-93.
Orr TM, Orr DL II.Methemoglobinemia secondary to over-the-counter Anbesol. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology 1997;84(1):79-81.
Osterhoudt K. Methemoglobinemia. In: Erickson TB, Ahrens WR, Aks S, Baum C, Ling L, editors. Pediatric Toxicology. 1st edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2005.
Public Health Advisory: Benzocaine Sprays marketed under different names, including Hurricaine, Topex, and Cetacaine. [Internet]. [Accessed 2011 June 6]. Available from: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/DrugSafetyInformationforHeathcareProfessionals/PublicHealthAdvisories/ucm124350.htm
Rodriguez LF, Smolik LM, Abehlik AJ. Benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia: report of a severe reaction and review of the literature. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 1994;28(5):643-649.
Sachdeva R, Pugeda JG, Casale LR, Meizlish JL, Zarich SW. Benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia. A potentially fatal complication of transesophageal echocardiography. Texas Heart Institute Journal 2003;30(4):308-310.
So T-Y, Farrington E. Topical benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia in the pediatric population. Journal of Pediatric Health Care 2008;22(6):335-339.
Spiller HA, Revolinski DH, Winter ML.Multi-center retrospective evaluation of oral benzocaine exposure in children. Veterinary and Human Toxicology 2000;42(4):228-231.
Stoelting RK, Miller RD. Basics of Anesthesia. 4th edition. Publisher: Elsevier Science Health Science Division; 2000.
Tantisattamo E, Suwantarat N, Vierra JR, Evans SJ. Atypical presentations of methemoglobinemia from benzocaine spray. Hawai'i Medical Journal 2011;70(6):125-126.
Townes PL, Geertsma MA and White MR. Benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia. American Journal of Diseases of Children 1977;131(6):697-698.
Tsigrelis C, Weiner L. Methemoglobinemia revisited: an important complication after transesophageal echocardiography. The European Society of Cardiology 2006;7(6):470-472.
Vallurupalli M, Das M, Manchanda S. Infection and the risk of topical anesthetic induced clinically significant methemoglobinemia after transesophageal echocardiography. Echocardiography 2010;27(3):318-323.
Vessely MB, Zitsch RP III. Topical anaesthetic-induced methemoglobinemia: A case report and review of literature. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 1993:108(6):763-767.
VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management Strategic Healthcare Group and the Medical Advisory Panel and the National Center for Patient Safety. A Guidance on the Use of Topical Anesthetics for Naso/Oropharyngeal and Laryngotracheal Procedures; 2006.
Wong DH, Wilson SE. Avoiding topical anethesia-induced methemoglobinemia. Obesity Surgery 2005:15(7):1088.
Wright R, Lewander W, Woolf A. Methemoglobinemia: etiology, pharmacology, and clinical management. Annals of Emergency Medicine 1999;34(5):646-56.