Product Information
Registration Status: ActiveSIN15585P
Difflam plus ANAESTHETIC Sore Throat Lozenges (Sugar Free) Honey Lemon Flavour is approved to be sold in Singapore with effective from 2018-11-29. It is marketed by INOVA PHARMACEUTICALS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD, with the registration number of SIN15585P.
This product contains 2,4 Dichlorobenzyl Alcohol 1.2mg,Benzydamine 3mg, and Lignocaine 4mg in the form of LOZENGE. It is approved for ORAL use.
This product is manufactured by Unique Pharmaceutical Laboratories (A Division of J.B.Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd.) in INDIA.
It is a Pharmacy Only Medicine that can be obtained from a pharmacist at a retail pharmacy.
Product Reference
Important Note: For generic product, the SPC/PIL provided may not be brand specific.
{{/items}} {{^items}}Source of information: Drugbank (External Link). Last updated on: 3rd July 18. *Trade Name used in the content below may not be the same as the HSA-registered product.
Description
Benzydamine (also known as Tantum Verde and branded in some countries as Difflam), available as the hydrochloride salt, is a locally-acting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with local anaesthetic and analgesic properties for pain relief and anti-inflammatory treatment of typically topical inflammatory conditions associated with the mouth, throat, or muscoskeletal locations. Although the indazole analogue benzydamine is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), it has various physicochemical properties and pharmacologic activities that are different from those of traditional aspirin-like NSAIDs but facilitate benzydamine's mechanism of action as an effective locally-acting NSAID with local anaesthetic and analgesic properties. Moreover, unlike aspirin-like NSAIDs which are acids or metabolised to acids, benzydamine is in fact a weak base.
Indication
Available predominantly as a liquid mouthwash, oromucosal spray, or topical cream, benzydamine is most frequently employed as a locally acting analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment for the relief of painful inflammatory conditions. When formulated as a mouthwash or spray, benzydamine may be used to treat traumatic conditions like pharyngitis following tonsillectomy or the use of a naso-gastric tube, inflammatory conditions like pharyngitis, aphthous ulcers and oral ulceration due to radiation therapy, dentistry operations and procedures, or more general conditions like sore throat, sore tongue, sore gums, mouth ulcers, or discomfort caused by dentures. [L1121] When used as a topical cream, benzydamine may be employed to relieve symptoms associated with painful inflammatory conditions of the muscolo-skeletal system including acute inflammatory disorders such as myalgia and bursitis or traumatic conditions like sprains, strains, bruises, sore muscles, stiff joints, or even the after-effects of fractures. [ L1123]
Mechanism of Action
Despite being categorized as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), benzydamine demonstrates various mechanisms of action that differ from those of traditional aspirin-like NSAIDs. In particular, benzydamine predominantly acts by inhibiting the synthesis of pro inflammatory cytokines like tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) without largely affecting other pro inflammatory cytokines (ie. such as IL-6 and IL-8) or anti-inflammatory cytokines (ie. like IL-10 or IL-1 receptor antagonist). [A31528, L1120] Moreover, benzydamine is largely a weak inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis as it has been shown to effectively inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase enzyme activity only at concentrations of 1mM or greater. Considering most contemporary usages of benzydamine are topical applications that are generally not well absorbed through the skin and/or non-specialized mucosae, benzydamine does not often achieve the kind of absorption or blood concentrations necessary to cause any extraneous distant systemic effects or COX inhibition, allowing it to localize its action. [A31528, L1120] Additionally, it is also hypothesized that benzydamine is capable of inhibiting the oxidative burst of neutrophils and membrane stabilization. These actions are exhibited by the substance’s ability to inhibit the release of granules from neutrophils and to stabilize lysosomes. [A31528, L1120] Furthermore, benzydamine is capable of a local anaesthetic effect that may be related to its capability for inhibiting the release of inflammatory mediators like substance P and calcitonin gene related peptide from sensory nerve endings. Since substance P is capable of causing the release of histamine from mast cells, benzydamine’s prevention of substance P release further contributes to an anti-inflammatory effect. [A31528, L1120] Benzydamine also demonstrates a non-specific antibacterial activity against various bacterial strains that are resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotics such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline at concentrations of about 3 mmol/L. Combinatorial use of benzydamine and other antibiotics like tetracycline and chloramphenicol are also synergistic against antibiotic resistant strains of *Staphylococcus aureus* and *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*. [A31528]
Pharmacokinetics
- Absorption
- Oral doses of benzydamine are well absorbed and plasma drug concentrations reach a peak fairly rapidly and then decline with a half-life of approximately 13 hours. When applied topically, although the local drug concentrations are relatively large, the systemic absorption of topically applied benzydamine is relatively low compared to oral doses. This low topical absorption contributes to a decreased potential for any systemic drug side-effects when benzydamine is administered in this way. [L1121]
- Distribution
- The volume of distribution of benzydamine is 10 L [A27273, A31528].
- Metabolism
- Benzydamine is primarily metabolized by oxidation, dealkylation, and conjugation into hydroxy, dealkylated, and N-oxide metabolites [L1121, A31528]. In general, however, when used at the recommended doses the levels at which benzydamine is absorbed or exposed into the body are usually not sufficient to produce systemic pharmacological effects [L
- Elimination
Clearance
Benzydamine demonstrateas a systemic clearance of 170 ml/min [A31528].
Toxicity
A possible adverse reaction associated with the use of the mouthwash or oromucosal spray formulations of benzymadine is potential numbness and/or stinging in the mouth and/or throat [L1120, L1121]. Some possible adverse reactions that tend to be associated more with topical cream formulations of benzymadine include increased sensitivity to sunlight, and localized itching, skin rash, redness, or swelling [L1123]. The prescribing information for all formulations of benzymadine however, warn against the possibility of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) associated with swelling of the throat and mouth, difficulty in swallowing, speaking, and breathing, or wheezing [L1120, L1121, L1123]. As benzydamine is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), it is necessary to determine if a patient is allergic to NSAIDs before considering its use [L1120, L1121, L1123]. Intoxication is expected as a consequence of accidental ingestion of large quantities of benzydamine (over 300 mg ingestion). Other symptoms associated with overdose of ingested benzydamine include gastrointestinal and central nervous system symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, oesophageal irritation, dizziness, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, and irritability [L1121]. The official prescribing information for benzydamine generally suggest that benzydamine mouthwashes and sprays should not be used in pregnancy [L1121, L1123] . Similarly, the official prescribing information for benzydamine also generally suggest that benzydamine mouthwashes and sprays should not be used during lactation unless considered essential by a physician [L1121, L1123]. The prescribing information for topical cream formulations of benzydamine note that benzydamine cream should not be used in pregnancy or lactation unless considered necessary by the physician [L1120]. Overall, non-clinical data reveal no special hazards for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated toxicity, genotoxicity, cardiogenic potential, and toxicity to reproduction [L1120]. Additionally, there is no evidence of teratogenic effects in animal studies [L1121].
Active Ingredient/Synonyms
Benzydamine | Benzydamine |
Source of information: Drugbank (External Link). Last updated on: 3rd July 18. *Trade Name used in the content below may not be the same as the HSA-registered product.
Description
A local anesthetic and cardiac depressant used as an antiarrhythmia agent. Its actions are more intense and its effects more prolonged than those of procaine but its duration of action is shorter than that of bupivacaine or prilocaine. [PubChem]
Indication
For production of local or regional anesthesia by infiltration techniques such as percutaneous injection and intravenous regional anesthesia by peripheral nerve block techniques such as brachial plexus and intercostal and by central neural techniques such as lumbar and caudal epidural blocks.
Mechanism of Action
Lidocaine stabilizes the neuronal membrane by inhibiting the ionic fluxes required for the initiation and conduction of impulses thereby effecting local anesthetic action. Lidocaine alters signal conduction in neurons by blocking the fast voltage gated sodium (Na+) channels in the neuronal cell membrane that are responsible for signal propagation. With sufficient blockage the membrane of the postsynaptic neuron will not depolarize and will thus fail to transmit an action potential. This creates the anaesthetic effect by not merely preventing pain signals from propagating to the brain but by aborting their birth in the first place.
Pharmacokinetics
- Absorption
- Information derived from diverse formulations, concentrations and usages reveals that lidocaine is completely absorbed following parenteral administration, its rate of absorption depending, for example, upon various factors such as the site of administration and the presence or absence of a vasoconstrictor agent.
- Distribution
- * 0.7 to 2.7 L/kg [healthy volunteers]
- Metabolism
- Primarily hepatic.
- Elimination
Clearance
* 0.64 +/- 0.18 L/min
Toxicity
The oral LD 50 of lidocaine HCl in non-fasted female rats is 459 (346-773) mg/kg (as the salt) and 214 (159-324) mg/kg (as the salt) in fasted female rats. Symptoms of overdose include convulsions, hypoxia, acidosis, bradycardia, arrhythmias and cardiac arrest.
Active Ingredient/Synonyms
2-(Diethylamino)-2',6'-acetoxylidide | 2-(Diethylamino)-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)acetamide | alpha-diethylamino-2,6-dimethylacetanilide | Lignocaine | α-diethylamino-2,6-dimethylacetanilide | Lidocaine |
Source of information: Drugbank (External Link). Last updated on: 3rd July 18. *Trade Name used in the content below may not be the same as the HSA-registered product.