Lidocaine and dibucaine
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
NDMA asks Consumer Products Safety Commission to reconsider its proposal to require child-resistant packaging for lidocaine- and dibucaine-containing products in a July 6 letter. Based on 1987-1991 data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers, NDMA said there have been 2,683 reported ingestions of lidocaine by children under six years old and no deaths, and 535 dibucaine ingestions resulting in two deaths. NDMA estimated that "about 50 mil." packages of lidocaine- and dibucaine-containing OTC anesthetics were sold from 1987 to 1991. A briefing package on topical lidocaine/dibucaine child-safety caps is expected to be issued to CPSC commissioners for consideration in September ("The Tan Sheet" July 26, p. 12).