Baby orajel follow-up (new FDA alert)

WinesNotWhines

Remember we were talking about this a few weeks ago? FDA issued a new warning last week.

Of particular interest:

Methemoglobinemia has been reported with all strengths of benzocaine gels and liquids, including concentrations as low as 7.5%. The cases occurred mainly in children aged two years or younger who were treated with benzocaine gel for teething. People who develop methemoglobinemia may experience pale, gray or blue colored skin, lips, and nail beds; shortness of breath; fatigue; confusion; headache; lightheadedness; and rapid heart rate.  In some cases, symptoms of methemoglobinemia may not always be evident or attributed to the condition. The signs and symptoms usually appear within minutes to hours of applying benzocaine and may occur with the first application of benzocaine or after additional use. If you or your child has any of these symptoms after taking benzocaine, seek medical attention immediately.

Benzocaine products should not be used on children less than two years of age, except under the advice and supervision of a healthcare professional.

mssaint

Yikes - that is scary. We will definitely not be using this. 

DCtoLowcountry

Will be tossing the unopened box from the medicine cabinet - thanks!

tomandcourt

I will admit to using this and appreciating its effectiveness. What do people use instead? Like in the middle of the night, when you can't exactly hand them a cold washcloth or whatever?

WinesNotWhines

tomandcourt:

I will admit to using this and appreciating its effectiveness. What do people use instead? Like in the middle of the night, when you can't exactly hand them a cold washcloth or whatever?

Tylenol or ibuprofen?

Sofka

gtown_bride:

tomandcourt:

I will admit to using this and appreciating its effectiveness. What do people use instead? Like in the middle of the night, when you can't exactly hand them a cold washcloth or whatever?

Tylenol or ibuprofen?

we've done that or sometimes just trying to soothe him, hold him, rock him, nurse him. When it's bad, it's really bad but the outcome of using Orajel is much much worse.

did anyone see an ad in a parenting mag (don't remember which one) that advertised Orajel without the benzocaine?

 

JKM416

gtown_bride:

tomandcourt:

I will admit to using this and appreciating its effectiveness. What do people use instead? Like in the middle of the night, when you can't exactly hand them a cold washcloth or whatever?

Tylenol or ibuprofen?

 

We were lucky - DD was a very easy teether.  DS has been tougher because he won't accept anything to chew on during the day.  But we dose him with Tylenol about 15 minutes before bedtime for a few nights during the worst of each phase, and he sleeps without any problems.  I'd much rather give him "safe" meds, even if admittedly unnecessary, and have him get a good night's sleep than have him up all night and be unable to comfort him.

mamabear2010

Hyland's has teething tablets and a gel that is homeopathic, no numbing chemicals or anything like that. All natural stuff, our pedi recommends it.

Sofka

I also use Camilla, you can get it on amazon, doesn't do anything for DS but others swear by it

 

eeclem

Before C could have ibuprofen, we did Tylenol and teething tablets (which come with their own controversy) and always kept a frozen washcloth in the freezer. Once ibuprofen entered out lives, everything else was meaningless.

jendonnelly10670

just an FYI these tablets were recalled.  We use the liquid version now and it is very effective.

https://www.hylands.com/news/hylands-teething-recall.php

LMH1209

jendonnelly10670:

just an FYI these tablets were recalled.  We use the liquid version now and it is very effective.

https://www.hylands.com/news/hylands-teething-recall.php

Doesn't the Hylands gel have the same ingredient (belladonna) that's at issue in the tablets?

Cat703

jendonnelly10670:

just an FYI these tablets were recalled.  We use the liquid version now and it is very effective.

https://www.hylands.com/news/hylands-teething-recall.php

Just started using the liquid for DD...seems to work most nights

eeclem

jendonnelly10670:

just an FYI these tablets were recalled.  We use the liquid version now and it is very effective.

https://www.hylands.com/news/hylands-teething-recall.php

I read that they were coming out with new ones in early 2011.We honestly haven't bought them in over a year (thanks to sweet, glorious ibuprofen).