These local anesthetics contain ingredients that can lead to overdoses and a rare but serious condition called methemoglobinemia, a disorder in which the amount of oxygen carried through the blood stream is greatly reduced. Children under age 2 are at particular risk and according to FDA pharmacist Mary Ghods, R.Ph., the most severe cases can end in death
Symptoms of overdose include:
- Falling asleep too easily
- Confusion
- Shaking
- Vomiting
- Vision problems
Safer Alternatives
“Teething is a normal phenomenon; all babies teethe,” says Ethan Hausman, M.D., a pediatrician and pathologist at FDA. “FDA does not recommend any sort of drug, herbal or homeopathic medication or therapy for teething in children.”
Instead, the FDA supports:
- gently rubbing or massaging the gums with your finger, and
- giving your child a cool teething ring or a clean, wet, cool washcloth to chew on
The FDA is now requiring a warning label to be included on all over-the-counter oral numbing products.
FDA WARNING: Teething Medications Deadly In Infants was originally published on blackdoctor.org
