Two Lozenges Containing Benzocaine Assessed in the Relief of Sore Throat

Abstract

A study has been conducted in general practice comparing two brands of lozenges, Merocaine (Merrell) and Tyrozets, (M.S.D.), in the management of acute sore throat and pharyngitis. Eighty-eight patients entered the between-patient study and each completed a diary card covering symptoms experienced and dosage used for each of the two drugs. The doctor reported upon the appearance of the throat and added antibiotics in cases of necessity, which was approximately for one-third of patients. Merocaine proved to be significantly superior to Tyrozets in producing rapid pain relief (within 15 minutes) and reduction of faucial and pharyngeal injection.

Efficacy of a benzocaine lozenge in the treatment of uncomplicated sore throat

“…The onset of worthwhile pain relief was about 20 min with benzocaine lozenges and significantly shorter than with placebo lozenges. Rapid onset of pain relief had also been observed in previous studies comparing different topical benzocaine preparations for the same condition [8,9]. The effect of the 8 mg benzocaine lozenge lasted around 100 min.…”

“…(1) participation in another clinical trial within 30 days beforehand, (2) actual or possible pregnancy, or lactation, (3) any suspicion of drug or alcohol abuse, (4) history of allergy to the study medication, (5) any severe chronic disease, (6) any current pain treatment--whether analgesics or nonsteroidal analgesics (NSAIDs), (7) treatment with steroids, oro-pharyngeal therapeutic agents, anticonvulsants, psychotropic or immunosuppressant agents within 24 h (or, with prolonged action NSAIDs, within 10 days), or antibiotics within the 14 days up to enrollment, (8) known or suspected bacterial infection, (9) known or suspected NADH-diaphorase deficiency. After patients had given informed written consent, their age and gender were recorded along with their medical and surgical history and the results of a general physical examination that included their height, weight, sitting blood pressure and heart rate.…”

“…Kagan and co-workers [8] compared in a single-blind study, two doses of benzocaine in a mixture with an antiseptic. The 10 mg benzocaine dose was more effective than half dose.…”

Efficacy and Safety of Ambroxol Lozenges in the Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Sore Throat

“…Local NSAIDS such as ibuprofen [63] and flurbiprofen [64,65,66] have been proposed, but concern has been expressed that the benefit of their local action might be too small in comparison to the risk related to their untoward systemic effects [67]. Alternatively, local anaesthetics [68,69] such as lidocaine [70] and benzocaine [71,72] are often used also to prevent postopera-tive sore throat resulting from the irritation by endotracheal intubation [73,74]. However, such local anaesthetics may cause to several side effects [75]: sensitisation [76] and methaemoglobulinaemia [77][78][79]) have been reported; additionally, the amount of benzocaine in several lozenges is probably too small to be of real benefit [80].…”

Efficacy and Tolerability of Ambroxol Hydrochloride Lozenges in Sore Throat

“…Although this complaint is generally of viral origin and heals spontaneously, the discomfort is such that most patients are likely to seek symptomatic relief by medication. Local anaesthetic medications containing lidocaine or benzocaine [1] are commonly used to enges per day, a statistically significantly higher proportion of patients scored a higher level of efficacy for the active treatments with ambroxol hydrochloride compared to placebo. The treatments investigated were equally well tolerated.…”