For the temporary relief of pain caused by recurrent mouth ulcers, denture irritation.

Not for use in children under 12 years.

Route of administration: oromucosal

Adults, the elderly and children over 12 years: apply a small amount to the affected area with a clean fingertip. One application should be sufficient. It should not be used more frequently than every 3 hours.

Hypersensitivity to the active substances, anaesthetics of the amide-type or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

Lidocaine is considered to be unsafe in patients with porphyria because it has been shown to be porphyrinogenic in animals.

Not suitable for treatment of teething in children.

Excessive dosage, or short intervals between doses, may result in high plasma levels and serious adverse effects (see Section 4.9). Anbesol should be used with caution in patients with wounds or traumatised mucosa in the region of the proposed application. A damaged mucosa will permit increased systemic absorption resulting in systemic effects, such as convulsions, particularly if excessive quantities are used.

This medicinal product contains chlorocresol and the azo dye Ponceau 4R (E124) which may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

This medicinal product contains 66.605% w/w ethanol (alcohol) (equivalent to 63.9% w/w ethanol 100%) . The small amount of alcohol in this medicine will not have any noticeable effects.

Lidocaine should be used with caution in patients receiving other local anaesthetics or agents structurally related to amide-type local anaesthetics, e.g. antiarrhythmic drugs such as mexiletine, since the toxic effects are additive.

In patients taking erythromycin the toxicity of oral lidocaine may be markedly increased.

In patients taking itraconazole, the toxicity of oral lidocaine may be markedly increased.

Antiarrhythmic drugs class III (e.g. amiodarone) may incur additive cardiac effects in combination with lidocaine.

Drugs that reduce the clearance of lidocaine (e.g. cimetidine or beta-blockers) may cause potentially toxic plasma concentrations when lidocaine is given in repeated high doses over a long time period. Such interactions should therefore be of no clinical importance following short-term treatment with topical lidocaine (e.g. Anbesol) at the recommended dose.

Chlorocresol has long been recognised to be incompatible with a range of compounds including calcium chloride, codeine phosphate, diamorphine hydrochloride, papaveretum, quinine hydrochloride, methylcellulose and non-ionic surfactants such as cetomacrogol 1000 and polysorbate 80.

Pregnancy:

The safety of this medicinal product for use in human pregnancy has not been established. The product is, therefore, not recommended during pregnancy.

Lactation:

Lidocaine enters the mother's milk, but in such small quantities that there is generally no risk of the child being affected at therapeutic dose levels.

Fertility:

No data on human fertility is available.

None known.

Undesirable effects are listed by MedDRA System Organ Classes.

Assessment of undesirable effects is based on the following frequency groupings:

Very common: ≥ 1/10

Common: ≥ 1/100 to <1/10

Uncommon: ≥ 1/1,000 to <1/100

Rare: ≥ 1/10,000 to <1/1,000

Very rare: <1/10,000

Not known: cannot be estimated from the available data

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard, or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Lidocaine:

Systemic features:

CNS Symptoms: Increasing restlessness, visual disturbances, agitation, tinnitus, confusion, hallucinations, drowsiness, weakness, shivering, paraesthesia, and muscle twitching lead to convulsions, which are the major feature of toxicity. Coma and apnoea may develop.

Cardiac Symptoms: Possibly transient hypertension and tachycardia followed by arrhythmias (including sinus bradycardia, AV nodal or ventricular arrhythmias, asystole). The incidence of torsade de pointes is less than with other groups of antiarrhythmics. Hypotension may result from depressed myocardial contractility and peripheral vasodilation.

GI Symptoms: Nausea and vomiting.

Allergic reactions occur rarely and may include urticaria, angioedema, contact dermatitis and pruritis. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been reported in severe allergic reactions.

Rarely methaemoglobinaemia may occur with excessive exposure to some local anaesthetics. This is much more commonly seen with benzocaine and prilocaine (due to its metabolite o-toluidine) than with lidocaine.

Serious toxicity is usually due to inadvertent intravenous overdosage. It is much less likely after oral administration because of extensive first pass metabolism but has been reported after ingestion of large amounts. Lidocaine is readily absorbed across mucous membranes and through damaged skin.

Systemic toxicity and death have been reported in children and adults following ingestion or aspiration of topical solutions or viscous preparations. The effect may also be due to absorption of high concentrations across the buccal mucosa causing systemic toxicity (see Section 4.4).

Potential toxic doses range from 800mg of gargled lidocaine solution (death), 1200mg ingestion (agitation and confusion) and 6g ingestion (death). Toxicity may also arise from rectal or urethral instillation.

Anaphylaxis or an anaphylactoid reaction has been reported following administration of 1% lidocaine solution for topical anaesthesia prior to fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

Signs of serious toxicity may occur at plasma concentrations greater than 5-8 microgram/mL (5-8mg/L).

Following ingestion bioavailability of lidocaine is 30-35% and peak levels occur within 40 minutes. The elimination half-life is about 1-2 hours. Metabolites of lidocaine have longer half-lives than lidocaine itself as well as antiarrhythmic activity.

All patients who have taken a deliberate overdose should be referred for assessment. Children and adults who have ingested 6mg/kg or more lidocaine, or those who are symptomatic, should be referred for medical assessment.

Children and adults who have accidentally ingested less than 6mg/kg lidocaine and who have no new symptoms since the time of ingestion do not need to be referred for medical assessment. Patients should be advised to seek medical attention if symptoms develop.

Chlorocresol:

Systemic features:

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, hypotension, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, metabolic acidosis, pallor, sweating and shock. CNS stimulation is followed by drowsiness, respiratory depression, cyanosis, convulsions, coma, bronchospasm and rapid onset pulmonary oedema and death. Methaemoglobinaemia is recognised. Phenol may also cause renal and hepatic injury.

Chronic exposure is rare but has been associated with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia, weight loss, hypersalivation, headache, fainting, mental disturbances, weakness, muscle aches and pain, mouth sores, renal and hepatic injury.

Exposure by any route can cause irritation, burns and systemic effects.

Ingestion causes irritation of mucous membranes, and of the GI tract. Significant ingestion is said to cause white/brown skin and mucosal burns which may be painless as phenol destroys the nerve endings. Laryngeal oedema can occur, and oesophageal stricture may be a late complication.

Skin contact – even dilute solutions (1%) can cause irritation, dermatitis and burns to the skin following prolonged contact. Often presents as relatively painless white or brown necrotic lesions; the brown colouration may remain after healing.

Management:

1. Wash area with soap and water.

2. Maintain a clear airway and ensure adequate ventilation. Give oxygen if clinically indicated.

3. Observe for at least 4 hours after exposure. Perform 12 lead ECG. Monitor pulse, blood pressure and cardiac rhythm continuously for 4 hours if the ECG is abnormal or the patient is symptomatic. Measure urea and electrolytes, arterial blood gases, liver and renal function in symptomatic cases and monitor in a critical care facility.

4. If cardiotoxicity is unresponsive to the above consider the use of a lipid emulsion. It is thought lipid may reduce free concentrations of active drug and therefore improve myocardial function, although other mechanisms are also postulated.

5. Correct acid base and metabolic disturbances as required.

6. Institute drug treatment of seizures as per local protocol.

Paediatric populations:

Lidocaine:

In children up to 6mg/kg lidocaine (with chlorhexidine in mouth paint) produced only minor symptoms. A 5 month old child had a seizure after ingestion of 100mg (14mg/kg). Severe toxicity in children is unlikely at doses less than 15mg/kg.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Anaesthetics for topical use

ATC code: D04AB

Lidocaine hydrochloride: Lidocaine is a local anaesthetic of the amide type which acts by reversible inhibition of nerve impulse generation and transmission.

Chlorocresol: Chlorocresol has a disinfectant action.

Cetylpyridinium chloride: Cetylpyridinium chloride has a disinfectant action.

Lidocaine hydrochloride: Lidocaine is readily absorbed from mucous membranes and through damaged skin. Lidocaine undergoes first-pass metabolism in the liver and about 90% is dealkylated to form monoethylglycinexylidide and glycinexylidide. Further metabolism occurs and the metabolites are excreted in the urine with less than 10% as unchanged lidocaine.

Chlorocresol: There is no significant absorption of chlorocresol through the skin or mucous membranes.

Cetylpyridinium chloride: There is no significant absorption of cetylpyridinium chloride through the skin or mucous membranes.

The active ingredients in Anbesol Adult Strength Gel have a well established safety record.

Alcohol 96%

Glycerol

Clove Oil

Sodium Saccharin

Hydroxypropyl Cellulose

Ponceau 4R (E124)

Purified Water

None known.

36 months unopened.

Do not store above 25° C.

Membrane sealed lacquered aluminium tubes fitted with plastic caps containing 10g gel.

No special requirements.

Any unused medicinal product or water material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.