Tag: Oral anesthetics

According to manufacturers and health experts, the numbing sensation from over-the-counter throat sprays provides fast, temporary relief, but how long does it take for throat numbing spray to wear off? The duration can range from as little as 15 minutes to up to two hours, depending primarily on the active ingredient and other influencing factors.

While most people are fine after accidentally swallowing a small amount of topical benzocaine, it can cause a rare but serious blood disorder called methemoglobinemia, especially in infants and young children. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against giving benzocaine products to children under 2 for teething pain due to this risk.