Cetacaine

Your provider will apply a small amount of Cetacaine directly to the area where pain control is needed. A trained healthcare provider must apply the medication to the area in a healthcare setting.

It typically only takes about 30 seconds for Cetacaine to numb the area it was applied to. The numbing effect lasts around 30 to 60 minutes.

The most common side effect of Cetacaine is skin irritation with redness and itching, which could potentially lead to blistering and oozing. This reaction is more likely to occur if you need Cetacaine regularly or for a long period of time. This is unlikely since Cetacaine is typically only administered for a short time during certain procedures.

Rarely, a condition known as methemoglobinemia can occur with local anesthetics like Cetacaine. Methemoglobinemia is a life-threatening condition that affects oxygen delivery from your blood to your organs. The risk is higher in people with heart or breathing problems, and people with a genetic blood condition called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Symptoms of methemoglobinemia are headaches; dizziness; trouble breathing; fast heart rate; feeling tired; and pale gray- or blue-colored skin, lips, and nail beds. They can happen right away or several hours after Cetacaine use. Your provider will monitor you during your procedure for symptoms of methemoglobinemia and treat you accordingly. Contact your provider right away if you notice any of these symptoms after a procedure in which you were given Cetacaine.