Health and Nutrition >
Medicines >
M
Health Centres - Merocaine lozenges
How does it work?
Thess lozenges contains two active ingredients, benzocaine and cetylpyridinium chloride.
Benzocaine belongs to a group of medicines known as local anaesthetics. It works by temporarily blocking the pathway of pain signals along nerves.
Pain is caused by the stimulation of pain receptors at the ends of nerves. The stimulation causes sodium to enter the nerve ending, which causes an electrical signal to build up in the nerve. When this electrical signal is big enough, it passes along the nerve to the brain, where the signal is interpreted as pain.
Benzocaine works by stopping the sodium entering the nerve ending at the site of the pain. This prevents an electrical signal building up and passing along the nerve fibres to the brain. In this way benzocaine causes numbness and relieves pain at the area it is applied to.
Cetylpyridinium chloride is a mild antiseptic, which kills the bacteria that may be associated with sore throats and mouth and throat infections.
The action of sucking the lozenge allows the active ingredients to work in the area of the discomfort. It also helps lubricate and soothe the painful area. This helps relieve the soreness and discomfort of mouth and throat infections. The inclusion of benzocaine in these lozenges means they can be used to relieve severe sore throats, for example due to tonsillitis.
What is it used for?
-
Relief from the symptoms of mouth and throat infections, eg sore throat
- Relief of pain and discomfort in more serious throat infections, such as tonsillitis and pharyngitis
Warning!
- Do not take more than 8 lozenges in 24 hours.
- If symptoms persist, or are accompanied by fever, headache or nausea and vomiting, consult your doctor.
Not to be used in
- Children under 12 years of age
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- There is no safety information available on the use of this medicine in human pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, it has been widely used for many years without ill consequence. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- Inability of red blood cells to transport oxygen due to disorders of haemoglobin (methaemoglobinaemia)
- Allergy to one or more of the ingredients (hypersensitivity)
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
There are no interactions with this medicine.
The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use
© Copyright 1998 - 2008 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved
Font size
Mail
My account
Help
Community
Print now
Send to a friend
Related articles
Related products
