Benzocaine Instead of Lidocaine in Your GI Cocktail?

Gastrointestinal cocktails are commonly used in the emergency department for treatment of patients with dyspepsia. Researchers wondered whether benzocaine, with its faster onset of action, . . .

Gastrointestinal cocktails are commonly used in the emergency department for treatment of patients with dyspepsia. Researchers wondered whether benzocaine, with its faster onset of action, could be substituted for lidocaine in such cocktails.

One hundred nonpregnant adult patients with upper abdominal pain or dyspepsia whose emergency physicians had ordered GI cocktails were asked to participate in the study; 82 consented. Participants were prospectively randomized to receive either 5 mL of 20% benzocaine (44 patients) or 10 mL of 4% viscous lidocaine (38 patients) in addition to 30 mL of Maalox and 10 mL of Donnatal. Pain was assessed on a 10-cm visual analog scale at baseline and after 5, 15, and 30 minutes. Both groups had significant imp…

Reviewing Author

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP