dibucaine topical

Skip to the navigation

Pronunciation: DYE bue kane

Brand: Dibucaine, Nupercainal

What is the most important information I should know about dibucaine topical?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What is dibucaine topical?

Dibucaine is an anesthetic, or numbing medicine.

Dibucaine topical (for the skin) is used to treat minor pain and itching caused by burns, insect bites, sunburn, or other skin irritations. Dibucaine topical is also used to relieve rectal pain and itching caused by hemorrhoids or other rectal irritations.

Dibucaine topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using dibucaine topical?

You should not use dibucaine topical if you are allergic to it.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use this medicine if you have other medical conditions, especially:

  • asthma or sulfite allergy.

It is not known whether dibucaine topical will harm an unborn baby. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether dibucaine topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 12 years old without medical advice. Dibucaine topical should not be used on a child younger than 2 years old.

How should I use dibucaine topical?

Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Do not take by mouth. Dibucaine topical is for use only on the skin. Do not use this medicine on open wounds or on sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, or irritated skin.

Dibucaine is usually applied to the affected area 3 or 4 times daily. Follow the label directions about how much medicine to use and how often.

Before applying dibucaine, wash the skin with soap and water. Rinse thoroughly, and pat dry gently with a tissue or soft cloth.

Apply enough of the medicine to cover the entire area to be treated.

For hemorrhoids: Dibucaine ointment may be applied to the outside of the rectum. Do not place the medicine inside the rectum. Use after each bowel movement or up to 4 times per day to treat hemorrhoid pain and itching.

Wash your hands after applying this medicine.

It is best to use no more than 1 tube of dibucaine per day (24 hours). If you use the ointment on a child, use no more than 1/4 of a tube per day.

You may cover the treated skin area with a light bandage or gauze dressing. Avoid any covering that does not allow air to pass through it, such as plastic wrap.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or you have redness, irritation, swelling, bleeding, or any new symptoms.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since dibucaine topical is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of dibucaine topical is not expected to be dangerous. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if anyone has accidentally swallowed the medication.

What should I avoid while using dibucaine topical?

Do not apply this medicine near your eyes. Rinse with water if the medicine gets in your eyes.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Dibucaine topical can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

What are the possible side effects of dibucaine topical?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Although the risk of serious side effects is low when dibucaine is applied to the skin, side effects can occur if the medicine is absorbed into your bloodstream. Your body may absorb dibucaine through the skin if you use too much or if you apply it over large skin areas. Skin that is cut or irritated may also absorb more medicine.

Stop using dibucaine topical and call your doctor at once if you have:

  • headache, tired feeling, shortness of breath;
  • blue-colored skin;
  • fast or irregular heartbeats;
  • seizure (convulsions); or
  • weak or shallow breathing.

Children can absorb larger amounts of this medicine through the skin and may be more likely to have side effects.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

  • new skin rash or irritation; or
  • rectal bleeding.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect dibucaine topical?

It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied dibucaine. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about dibucaine topical.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2017 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.02. Revision date: 12/14/2016.

Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by clicking on this link.