dyclonine

Dyclonine is a medication used for temporary relief from occasional minor mouth and throat irritation, pain, sore mouth, and sore throat.

Dyclonine is available over the counter (OTC) in the form of lozenges taken orally and allowed to slowly dissolve in the mouth. Dyclonine relieves pain by acting as a local numbing agent (anesthetic).

Dyclonine produces local loss of sensation by reducing or preventing the conduction of nerve signals in the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. Dyclonine binds to activated sodium channels on the membrane of nerve cells (neurons) and reduces the inflow of sodium ions. This stabilizes the neuronal membrane and arrests the action potential, stopping the conduction of pain signals from the region temporarily.

• Do not take dyclonine lozenges if you are hypersensitive to any of the components in the formulation.
• Do not administer lozenges to children younger than 2 years old, lozenges can be a choking hazard for young children.
• Some formulations may contain propylene glycol, large amounts of which can be potentially toxic. Use with caution.
• Some formulations may contain tartrazine which may cause allergic symptoms, particularly in people with aspirin sensitivity. Use with caution.

Common side effects of dyclonine include:

• Local pain
• Local irritation
• Burning sensation in the mouth
• Localized numbness
• Localized warm feeling
• Feeling hot
• Sensation of cold
• Hypersensitivity reactions

Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms or serious side effects while using this drug:

• Serious heart symptoms include fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness;
• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady;
• Severe nervous system reaction with very stiff muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, and feeling like you might pass out; or
• Serious eye symptoms include blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.

This is not a complete list of all side effects or adverse reactions that may occur from the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may also report side effects or health problems to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Lozenge

• 1.2 mg
• 2 mg
• 3 mg

Adults and Pediatric:

Pharyngitis

• Adults and children over 2 years: Allow lozenge to dissolve slowly in mouth; may be repeated every 2 hours as needed
• Children under 2 years: Safety and efficacy not established (lozenge may be a choking hazard)
• Not to exceed 10 lozenges/day

Overdose

Dyclonine overdose can depress the cardiovascular system, affect the central nervous system and cause methemoglobinemia, a condition with high blood levels of methemoglobin, a form of hemoglobin that does not deliver oxygen to tissues. Overdose treatment includes symptomatic and supportive care.

Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking, who can advise you on any possible drug interactions. Never begin taking, suddenly discontinue, or change the dosage of any medication without your doctor’s recommendation.

• Dyclonine has no listed severe, serious, moderate, or mild interactions with other drugs.

The drug interactions listed above are not all of the possible interactions or adverse effects. For more information on drug interactions, visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker.

It is important to always tell your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider of all prescription and over-the-counter medications you use, as well as the dosage for each, and keep a list of the information. Check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any questions about the medication.

• There are no animal reproductive studies on dyclonine use during pregnancy and it is not known if dyclonine can cause fetal harm. It is also not known if dyclonine can affect reproduction capacity. Dyclonine should be used by pregnant women only if it is clearly needed and the benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the fetus.
• It is not known if dyclonine is present in breast milk. Use with caution in nursing mothers because many drugs are excreted in breast milk.
• Do not take any OTC drug without first checking with your healthcare provider, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• Take dyclonine exactly as prescribed or as per label instructions.
• If you are self-medicating with OTC dyclonine, stop use and consult a physician if:
  • Sore throat is severe, lasts for longer than 2 days, occurs with or is followed by fever, headache, rash, nausea, or vomiting
  • Sore mouth symptoms last more than 7 days, or irritation, pain, or redness continues or worsens
• Store safely out of reach of children.
• In case of overdose, seek medical help or contact Poison Control.