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What is BLT (Benzocaine, Lidocaine, Tetracaine) Numbing Cream used for?

What is BLT (Benzocaine, Lidocaine, Tetracaine) Numbing Cream used for?

What is BLT (Benzocaine, Lidocaine, Tetracaine) Numbing Cream used for? | LomitaBenzocaine, Lidocaine, Tetracaine (BLT) is a blend of topical anesthetics used for anesthesia purposes and mild pain control, including use during procedures such as surgery, endoscopy, and dental procedures.

It can also be used to suppress gag reflexes. The onset of anesthesia is usually under one minute, and the impact lasts for 30 to 60 minutes.

Benzocaine, Lidocaine, and Tetracaine have a higher probability of causing contact sensitization in comparison to other local anesthetics. The potential for sensitization depends on the duration of contact, and these products are for meant for prolonged application time or use.

Triple anesthetic creams offer effective cutaneous anesthesia as early as 15 minutes after their application. BLT cream comprises three active components: benzocaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine. It is widely considered as the most efficient numbing cream for laser and other cosmetic treatments.

American Integrative Pharmacy (AIP), led by Dr. Neema Yazdanpanah, provides safe and proven compounding pharmacy treatments to patients in Long Beach, Torrance, Los Angeles, South Bay Orange County, Southern California areas, and nationwide.

 

Components of the Cream

  • Benzocaine (20 percent)
  • Lidocaine (8 percent)
  • Tetracaine (4 percent)

Benzocaine

Benzocaine is one of the most used anesthetics in medicine today, and it works by impeding voltage-dependent sodium channels on neuron membranes. It takes effect very rapidly and is usually well-tolerated, which makes it sought-after for various applications.

Lidocaine

Lidocaine is a popularly used topical anesthetic that was discovered in the 1940s. It functions by obstructing sodium channels which, when used topically, inhibit local neurons from sending signals to the brain. Lidocaine has an onset of around four minutes when applied directly to the skin.

Tetracaine

This is a longer acting anesthetic that works by altering the function of ryanodine receptors that manage the release of intracellular calcium. The onset time is usually longer in comparison to both Benzocaine and Lidocaine when applied topically.  

Mechanism of Action

Benzocaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine are local anesthetics that lead to a reversible obstruction of nerve conduction by reducing nerve membrane permeability to sodium. This reduces the membrane depolarization rate, and thereby, enhances the threshold for electrical excitability.

The blockade impacts all nerve fibers in the following sequence: autonomic, sensory, and motor, with the impact diminishing in reverse order. In clinical terms, the loss of function occurs as follows: pain, temperature, touch, proprioception, and skeletal muscle tone.

Effective anesthesia warrants direct nerve membrane penetration, which is accomplished by applying the anesthetics topically to the site to be anesthetized.

The systematic absorption of local anesthetics can impact the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. But the systemic absorption of benzocaine; lidocaine; tetracaine is expected to be minimal with proper use.

 

Route-Specific Pharmacokinetics

Topical Route

The use of benzocaine; lidocaine; tetracaine products should be avoided 72 hours prior to pancreatic function tests with bentiromide because the benzocaine element could interfere with the outcomes.

Benzocaine; lidocaine; tetracaine comprises esther anesthetics, which are metabolized to para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). Therefore, these should not be administered to an individual with ester local anesthetic hypersensitivity or para-aminobenzoic acid, PABA hypersensitivity.

Benzocaine; lidocaine; tetracaine products are only meant for topical application. Ophthalmic use and any form of parenteral administration, such as intramuscular administration, subcutaneous administration, and intravenous administration, are contraindicated.

The application of benzocaine; lidocaine; tetracaine to substantial areas of swollen or denuded tissue (for instance, skin or mucous abrasion, skin or mucous atrophy, burns) is contraindicated.

American Integrative Pharmacy receives patients from Long Beach, Torrance, Los Angeles, South Bay Orange County, Southern California areas, and nationwide for innovative and advanced compounding pharmacy solutions to treat a variety of health conditions.

 For more information on compound pharmacy medications available or to make an online prescription purchase, please click here or call Toll Free 1-855-247-7948.

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American Integrative Pharmacy is located in Lomita, CA serving residents in and around Orange County, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Torrance and surrounding areas. Online prescription sales are available across the US.

23326 Hawthorne Blvd.
Skypark Bldg. 10, Ste. 185
Torrance, CA 90505

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