Oraqix

Oraqix is a local anesthetic. It is applied on gingival margin (gums) around selected teeth to cause numbness or loss of feeling during dental procedures like scaling or root planning.

It works by blocking nerves to send pain signals to the brain. It does not cause unconsciousness.

It is in oil form at room temperature. When it is applied on gums, it solidifies at body temperature into an elastic gel. It is available in the form of gel and only with dentist’s prescription.

Your doctor will inform you of what you need to know before using Oraqix.

Before starting, your doctor should be informed about following conditions:

Allergy: Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to food, preservatives, dyes and animals or any previous allergic reaction which occurred while using it before.

Children: There are no adequate studies done which prove Lidocaine and Prilocaine harmful effects in children. Safety and efficacy have not been established. It should not be used in children less than 3-year-old.

Elderly: They are more sensitive to its effects. In elderly patients, it should be used with caution.

Pregnancy: It is a category B drug. Studies show no harmful effects on an unborn baby. Discuss potential risk factor with your doctor while using it in pregnancy.

Breastfeeding: Lidocaine and Prilocaine are found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Lidocaine and Prilocaine, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Drug Interactions: Lidocaine and Prilocaine interact with many drugs. They should not be used with several drugs. Your doctor should be informed of any other medicine which you are taking as he/she may change the dosage or drug.

Other medical problems: Several other conditions may reduce its effectiveness.

Make sure you inform your doctor of conditions such as:

• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
• Heart disease.
• Heart rhythm problems: May causes side effects to become worse.
• Methaemoglobinaemia (blood disorder), history of: Should not use in patients with this condition.
• Liver disease, severe: Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

To use Oraqix properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor. A dentist or trained health professional will apply it on your gums using a blunt-tipped applicator included in the package.

Your dentist may start his procedure after 30 seconds of application till the gel solidifies on your gums.

In using Oraqix, you must be careful and take some precautions as advised by your doctor. Oraqix may cause severe allergic reaction which can be life-threatening.

Inform your doctor immediately if you start having a rash, itching, fainting, palpitation, trouble breathing and swelling of hand face, mouth. It may cause methemoglobinaemia, a rare blood disorder.

Inform your dentist immediately if you develop blue or bluish purple color on the lips, fingernails, or skin, or have headaches, dizziness, fainting, sleepiness, or trouble with breathing after you receive this medicine.

You should be careful not to injure the gum by chewing gums or food while your mouth feels numb, or by exposing it to very hot or cold foods or liquids.

As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Oraqix. Some people may experience none or minor side effects. Consult with your doctor if they become problematic or frequent.

More common are:

• Gum numbness that continues.
• Gum swelling or irritation
• Nausea

Less common are:

• Itching
• Hoarseness or trouble with swallowing
• Rash
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, or tongue
• Tightness in the chest
• Trouble with breathing
• Wheezing

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1 800 FDA 1088.