FDA Warns that Topical Anesthetics Could Cause Injury

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory last Friday about the potential side effects of some over-the-counter and prescription topical anesthetics used to relieve pain from mammography and other medical tests. The FDA warns that improper use of the topical anesthetics, which includes creams, gels, and ointments, could lead to serious and potentially fatal side effects.

Topical anesthetics are absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream, desensitizing the nerve endings closest to the surface of the skin, resulting in a numbing effect.

Teresa Toigo, Director of the Office of Special Health Issues at the FDA, issued a warning in a letter to sent to healthcare providers and posted a notice on the FDA website that "improper use of topical anesthetics can lead to excessive absorption of the drug into the bloodstream and may cause life-threatening side effects such as irregular heartbeats, seizures, breathing difficulties, coma, and even death."

Applying too much of the anesthetic, or wrapping or covering an area treated with the anesthetic could increase the risk of side effects. The reason being that as skin temperature increases so does the amount of anesthetic that reaches the bloodstream.

The warning was issued after reports of problems were received, including at least two women who died after using the skin numbing products before laser hair removal.

The FDA is recommending that if a topical anesthetic is prescribed or suggested, consumers should use the lowest amount necessary.  The FDA has also asked doctors to consider whether or not another type of pain reliever, such as an oral medication, could work just as well as a topical anesthetic.  Studies comparing the use of oral pain relievers versus topical anesthetics found no risk of serious or life-threatening side effects when patients used an oral pain reliever.

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