Muscle rubs like Bengay® and Icy Hot® are used to soothe aches and pains in adults. However,
they can be toxic if swallowed
and should be kept out of reach of kids. The active ingredient in many of these products is methyl salicylate, a medicine similar to aspirin.
How much Icy Hot is poisonous?
While common, over-the-counter ache-relief products contain a much lower percentage of methyl salicylate than is contained in oil of wintergreen—for example, both Icy Hot and BenGay Extra Strength contain 30 percent, the highest percentage of all topical creams—their toxic potential is real: The U.S. Food and Drug …
What do you do if you get icy hot in your mouth?
Avoid using a heating pad or other heating devices on the treated area. This medicine may cause harm if swallowed. If this medicine (Icy Hot Naturals) is swallowed,
call a doctor or poison control center
right away.
What happens if you get Bengay in your mouth?
This medicine may cause harm if chewed or swallowed. If Bengay (menthol patch) has been put in the mouth,
call a doctor or poison control center right away
. Avoid use of heat sources (such as sunlamps, tanning beds, heating pads, electric blankets, heat lamps, saunas, hot tubs, heated waterbeds).
What happens if you get Icy Hot?
Accidental swallowing of capsaicin
can cause severe burning in or around the mouth, watery eyes, runny nose, and trouble swallowing or breathing. Applying too much Icy Hot with Capsaicin to the skin can cause severe burning or redness.
What can I use instead of Icy Hot?
- Noxicare. …
- Arnica Gel. …
- Traumeel. …
- Badger Sore Muscle Rub.
Is Icy Hot cold or hot first?
The active ingredients in Icy Hot formulations are either menthol alone, a combination of menthol and methyl salicylate, menthol and camphor, or menthol and lidocaine (a topical anesthetic). These ingredients cause a cooling sensation followed by a warming sensation (“
icy” then “hot
“) that relieves pain.
What is Icy Hot used for?
This product is used to
treat minor aches and pains of the muscles/joints
(e.g., arthritis, backache, sprains). Menthol and methyl salicylate are known as counterirritants. They work by causing the skin to feel cool and then warm.
Can you overdose on muscle rub?
A 17-year-old US athlete died after an
overdosing
on a common muscle-rub, medical examiners have announced. Such over-the-counter creams are rubbed into the skin to relieve muscle ache after exercise.
Can I shower after applying bengay?
Heat can increase the risk of side effects. Do not apply this medication immediately before, during, or after activities that increase skin temperature (e.g., bathing in hot water, swimming, sun bathing, heavy exercise) or in hot/humid weather.
Wait until your skin has cooled before applying the medication
.
Can you too much bengay?
Too much medicine used and absorbed.
The young girl apparently absorbed high levels of methyl salicylate, an anti-inflammatory medicine related to aspirin that is found in Bengay and Icy Hot. Using too much over days or weeks can cause a chronic poisoning called salicylism, which, as in this case, can be
lethal
.
Can you overuse bengay?
Methyl salicylate, or salicylic acid, is the active ingredient in creams such as Bengay, Icy Hot and Tiger Balm, as well as aspirin, and “
is potentially harmful if it is overused
,” said Dr. Gerard Varlotta, the director of sport rehabilitation at Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in New York City.
Does Icy Hot have aspirin in it?
This drug contains
an aspirin-like product
(salicylate). Children and teenagers younger than 18 years should not use this product if they have chickenpox, flu, or any undiagnosed illness or if they have recently received a vaccine.
Can you be allergic to Icy Hot?
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is
rare
. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects.
Can I use Icy Hot on my stomach?
A simple and inexpensive way of treating abdominal pain is with a home heating pad. Heat can help soothe cramping muscles and provide a source of comfort. Some tips to remember are:
Never use a sports cream product
(such as Icy Hot or Ben-Gay) with a heating pad as it can cause severe burns.
Is Icy Hot bad when pregnant?
Still, Icy Hot isn't considered a restricted substance, and
it's generally regarded as safe to use throughout your pregnancy
. The conflict around Icy Hot is that its ingredients can be absorbed into your bloodstream and pass into the fetus.
