Alternatives to Retre-Gel If You Can't Fill Your Prescription

Retre-Gel is a 20% benzocaine topical anesthetic gel. Whether you can't locate Retre-Gel at your pharmacy, your dentist has switched suppliers, or you're looking for an alternative due to a known sensitivity, there are several effective options. The good news: benzocaine is just one of several topical anesthetics available, and many alternatives are widely stocked at retail pharmacies.

Same Ingredient, Different Brand: Direct Benzocaine Alternatives

The simplest alternative to Retre-Gel is any other 20% benzocaine topical gel. These products share the same active ingredient and concentration and are therapeutically interchangeable for most indications:

Hurricaine Gel (Beutlich Pharmaceuticals) — 20% benzocaine, comes in wild cherry, pina colada, and mint flavors; widely used in dental offices.

Orajel Maximum Strength (20% benzocaine) — available OTC at virtually every major drugstore and grocery store in the US.

Anbesol Maximum Strength (20% benzocaine) — gel and liquid forms; available OTC at Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, and online.

Benzo-Jel (20% benzocaine) — professional dental gel available in multiple flavors through dental distributors.

Topex (20% benzocaine) — another professional dental benzocaine gel; available from dental supply companies.

Lidocaine-Based Alternatives

Lidocaine is an amide-type local anesthetic — a different chemical class from benzocaine (an ester-type). This distinction matters for patients who have allergies to ester-type anesthetics. Lidocaine topical products include:

Lidocaine 2% viscous solution — Rx product commonly used for oral/pharyngeal anesthesia; available at most pharmacies.

Lidocaine 4% topical solution — used for mucosal anesthesia; may require a prescription.

LMX 4% (lidocaine 4% cream) — OTC cream for skin surface anesthesia; works well for minor skin procedures.

Lidocaine has a safer pregnancy profile than benzocaine (Category B vs. Category C) and is considered less likely to cause methemoglobinemia. For patients who cannot use benzocaine, lidocaine is the most widely recommended alternative.

EMLA Cream (Lidocaine + Prilocaine)

EMLA (lidocaine 2.5% + prilocaine 2.5%) is a prescription eutectic cream that provides deeper skin anesthesia than benzocaine gels when applied under occlusion for 45-60 minutes. It's often used before IV insertion, skin biopsies, tattoos, and laser procedures. While not a direct oral substitute for Retre-Gel, it's a strong alternative for skin surface applications.

Tetracaine-Based Products

Tetracaine is also an ester-type local anesthetic, like benzocaine, but it is more potent and longer-lasting. It's available in topical gel and eye drop formulations. Tetracaine is not as widely available OTC but may be an option prescribed by a dentist or ophthalmologist for specific procedures.

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Non-Pharmacological Options for Oral Pain

If you need temporary oral pain relief while you locate Retre-Gel or an equivalent, these non-drug approaches may provide some relief:

Cold compress or ice pack applied to the outer jaw

Salt water rinse (1/2 tsp salt in 8 oz warm water)

OTC ibuprofen or acetaminophen for systemic pain relief

Clove oil (eugenol) — a natural dental analgesic used for temporary toothache relief

How to Choose the Right Alternative

The right choice depends on your specific situation:

If you need an OTC product quickly: Orajel Maximum Strength or Anbesol Maximum Strength (both 20% benzocaine) are the fastest options.

If you are allergic to benzocaine or PABA: Ask your prescriber about lidocaine 2% viscous or LMX 4% cream.

If you are pregnant: Lidocaine (Category B) is generally preferred over benzocaine (Category C) — consult your OB and dentist.

For dental procedure prep: Any professional 20% benzocaine gel (Hurricaine, Topex, Benzo-Jel) is equivalent to Retre-Gel.

If you're still having trouble locating any benzocaine topical product, see our guide on how to find Retre-Gel in stock near you, or use medfinder to have pharmacies near you checked on your behalf.