An occasional feature, prepared in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Professional Standards Directorate, to highlight problems and inquiries currently being handled
Pharmacists are advised to be extremely careful if they receive requests from "body piercers" for local anaesthetics to be used in connection with tongue piercing.
It has been brought to the Society's attention that Xylocaine spray, although indicated for use on mucous membranes, is not licensed for use in connection with tongue piercing. Xylocaine 4 per cent topical gel is licensed to provide anaesthesia of mucous membranes and, although tongue piercing is not specifically mentioned in the product's summary of product characteristics, this use would not be outside the terms of its marketing authorisation.
Before selling these products, pharmacists are advised to check carefully the purpose for which they are intended and, where appropriate, to consider refusing to sell.
Correction
The second sentence of the second paragraph should refer to Xylocaine 4 per cent topical. The word gel should not be used in connection with this preparation which is, in fact, a solution.