So as I've said I work in adult novelty retail and I loe my job.
Retail has always been something I'm good at and it's always been a fall back for my "real" job, dental assisting.
Lately I've had a lot of customers ask about the lidocaine and benzocaine found in Anal Ease, Anal lubes and desensitizers for men.
I figured I'd give you guys the run down in case anyone needed the info.
Most products sold for the purposes mentioned above conatain over the counter amounts of either lidocaine or benzocaine.
Most people are familiar with both. You go to the dentist for work. He (or me) dabs on some topical (benzocaine)that makes your gums numb before he pulls out that needle (lidocaine) that everyone says is so huge but it's really not (20 or 30 gauge) and anesthetizes the teeth that need the work.
The customary block for dental (unless for some reason the dentist needs to use different med) is normally 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 Epinephine.
The lido blocks the nerve and the epi reduces bleeding. If the dentist accidently hits a blood vessel and the meds go into the blood the person feels a little rush to the head, followed by shaking hands and feet. This is normal and passes quickly.
The topical is usually benzocaine because it absorbs faster through the mucosa which also happens to be very similar to male and female genital mucosa. Lidocaine is much stronger and penetrates deeper. When you think of benzocain, think Orajel. When you think of lidocain, think prescription pain patch.
Now here is the science part.........
*Smacks the chalkboard with her pointer* (Oh come on now, you know that gave you a hot for teacher visual)
Local anesthetics block the sodium (NA+) channels of the cell membranes. By blocking the ability of the sodium channels to open, or become active, the membrane cannot transmit any action potential, meaning it cannot send sensory messages to the neurons
Each anesthetic has a lipophilic aromatic ring that increases its lipid (fat) solubility. This increased solubility enhances its ability to reach the neurons, thereby increasing the anesthetic effects. In addition, both lidocaine and benzocaine have a terminal amine (an NH at the end). This portion of the structure is important in the anesthetic's ability to transform between a water-soluble form and a lipid-soluble form. For the substance to be injected, as lidocaine often is, or to be in a suspension such as for ear drops (or orajel)like benzocaine often is, it needs to be water-soluble, meaning it can be in solution in water. However, once it enters the body, it must transform into a lipid-soluble form so that it can penetrate the neuron and induce the anesthetic effect.
Used in careful doses, the anesthetic effects of lidocaine and benzocaine are useful for a variety of applications; however, toxicity can occur, especially for lidocaine, because its effects penetrate deeper into the body. If too much is used, neuron signaling can be detrimentally affected, causing the central nervous system to become depressed resulting in convulsive seizures. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning in January 2009 against the use of local anesthetics such as lidocaine in cosmetic purposes. Two women who used a topical anesthetic in conjunction with laser hair removal experienced seizures that led to coma and death.
All that information is available by Googling Lidocain vs Benzocain
Now, when you buy those products for whatever reason you need them you will see either medication and they both work but here's the rub. Because lidocaine is much more potent then benzocaine and broken down in the liver, it's usually in products that are not meant to be consumed. Everhard for example, is 14% It goes on your dick not in your mouth. Anal Eaze or 69 Mints which are edible contain 7% of benzocaine.
Both can cause serious medical problems if not used correctly. Including irregular heartrate, decreased breathing and siezures.
So if you guys use any of this stuff BE CAREFUL!!!!
My customers tell me as far as desensitizers go they work better in spray form. You spray it (a little goes a loooong way) on the head and go about your foreplay. Then by the time it's working you should be good to go. If you spray too much, you will knock out your dude and he wont wake up for hours.
Most women prefer to keep things like desenitizers away from the vajayjay because we WANT to come before our men do and that stuff works on us too. So if you're using a cream or balm type product make sure it's rubbed in well or dry before the approach. Otherwise, it will rub off on your parnter and she will become very unhappy with you. And what do we say boys? If mamma ain't happpy....
The edible stuff? Just be careful with that too. It works well for deep throating and less painful anal sex. But even if you use too much of a benzocaine product you can reduce pain so much that you won't feel when something is really wrong and you can hurt yourself or your partner that way.
There's more to safe sex than just condoms people!
Class dismissed!!

Edited by - SexShopGrl on Jul 10 2011