Description

What Anbesol Liquid is and what it is used for?
Anbesol Liquid contains 0.9%w/w of lidocaine hydrochloride, 0.1%w/w of chlorocresol and 0.02%w/w of cetylpyridinium chloride.

Lidocaine hydrochloride is a local anaesthetic which works by stopping the sensation of pain. Chlorocresol and cetylpyridinium chloride kill bacteria.

Anbesol Liquid is used to help relieve pain and discomfort associated with teething, in children from 5 months of age, when other non-medicinal methods such as massaging of the gums or use of teething rings do not provide necessary relief.

The product may also be used by adults, children and the elderly for the temporary relief of pain caused by recurrent mouth ulcers and denture irritation.

What you need to know before you use Anbesol Liquid
Do not use Anbesol Liquid:
If you are allergic to lidocaine hydrochloride, chlorocresol, cetylpyridinium chloride, other anaesthetics similar to lidocaine or any of the other ingredients in this medicine (listed in Section 6).
You have porphyria (a disease which causes stomach pain, constipation, changes in the colour of urine, skin rashes and disturbed behaviour).
If your child is under 5 months old.
At the same time as other products containing lidocaine.
Do not use more Anbesol Liquid than recommended (as listed in Section 3) as this may result in the active ingredients being absorbed into the body causing serious side effects, such as convulsions (fits).

Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Anbesol Liquid:

If you have open wounds or damaged areas in the lining of your mouth as this may result in too much of the active ingredients being absorbed.
If symptoms continue for more than 7 days or recur frequently, speak to your pharmacist, doctor or dentist.
Other medicines and Anbesol Liquid
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any of the following medicines as they may interfere with Anbesol Liquid:

Other anaesthetics or medicines similar to lidocaine for example antiarrhythmic drugs such as mexiletine which are used to control abnormal heartbeats
Erythromycin a type of antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections
Itraconazole a type of antifungal medicine used to treat fungal infections
Antiarrhythmic drugs such as amiodarone which are used to control abnormal heartbeats
Cimetidine used to treat stomach ulcers or heartburn
Beta-blockers used to treat heart conditions, high blood pressure or migraine
Calcium chloride used for the treatment of hypocalcaemia or as a food additive
Codeine phosphate used to treat pain, diarrhoea or relieve coughs
Diamorphine hydrochloride a painkiller used to treat severe pain
Paveretum used to treat moderate to severe pain and to calm you before an operation
Quinine hydrochloride used to treat malaria or leg cramps
Methylcellulose used to treat constipation
Non-ionic surfactants such as Cetomacrogol 1000 and polysorbate 80 which are used in medicines, foods and cosmetics
Pregnancy, fertility and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant, breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.

If you are breast-feeding, small amounts of the active ingredient lidocaine will pass into your breast milk but in such small quantities that it should not harm your baby if this medicine is used as directed.

Driving and using machines
Anbesol Liquid is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines.

Important information about some of the ingredients
This medicine contains chlorocresol and the azo dyes amaranth (E123) and sunset yellow (E110) which may cause allergic reactions.

This medicine contains 151 mg of alcohol (ethanol) in each dose (0.25 ml), which is equivalent to 604 mg/ ml (65.6% w/v). The amount in 0.25 ml of this medicine is equivalent to 4 ml beer or 2 ml wine.

The amount of alcohol in this medicine is not likely to have an effect in adults and adolescents, and its effects in children are not likely to be noticeable. It may have some effects in younger children, for example feeling sleepy.

The alcohol in this medicine may alter the effects of other medicines. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other medicines.

How to use Anbesol Liquid
Follow these instructions carefully and never change the dose yourself. Do not exceed the stated dose.

Adults and the Elderly:
Cover the mouth of the bottle with a clean fingertip, invert once and return the bottle to the upright position.
Apply Anbesol Liquid using the fingertip, undiluted, to the affected area
Two applications of Anbesol Liquid straight away, will normally be enough to obtain pain relief.
If necessary, repeat the application after 3 hours.
Babies Teething and Children:
Cover the mouth of the bottle with a clean fingertip, invert once and return the bottle to the upright position. This equals to a dose of 0.25 ml of Anbesol liquid.
Apply Anbesol Liquid using the fingertip, undiluted, to the affected area.
If necessary, repeat the application after 3 hours.
Do not use more than 6 times in one day (24-hour period).
If your child vomits, spits or swallows the medicine, do not use any more product immediately. Wait 3 hours before using the medicine again.
If your child’s symptoms worsen, do not improve after 7 days of treatment or you are concerned that your child is unwell, talk to a health care professional.
Do not use for more than 7 days for each teething episode.
Stop treatment when your child’s symptoms settle.
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you to. Do not give more medicine than the label tells you to.
You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
If you use more Anbesol Liquid than you should:
If anyone used more Anbesol Liquid than they should, or if large quantities of the liquid are accidentally swallowed, contact your doctor or your nearest Accident and Emergency department, taking this leaflet and pack with you.

Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine may cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Allergic reactions (eg difficulty breathing, rash or itch).
Some people have reported suffering from mouth ulcers.
Dermatitis (inflammation of the skin that can cause red, itchy and scaly skin).
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly 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.

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

How to store Anbesol Liquid
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 25˚C.
Do not use after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and bottle after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicine.