Comprehensive medication guide to {drug} including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Ethyl Chloride (Chloroethane) is a vapocoolant skin refrigerant and topical anesthetic classified as an FDA-cleared prescription medical device. It is manufactured exclusively by Gebauer Company in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold under the brand name Gebauer's Ethyl Chloride.
Ethyl Chloride is used to provide temporary pain control for:
It is also used off-label for trigger point therapy, cosmetic procedures like dermal filler injections, and pediatric procedural pain management.
When sprayed onto the skin, Ethyl Chloride rapidly evaporates, creating an immediate cooling effect on the skin surface. This rapid temperature drop decreases the initiation and conduction of impulses in surrounding sensory nerves, temporarily numbing the area and providing short-term pain relief lasting approximately 60 seconds per application.
For the spray and stretch technique used in myofascial pain management, the product is sprayed from 12–18 inches away in parallel sweeps over the affected muscle while the muscle is passively stretched.
Ethyl Chloride is available in several spray formulations from Gebauer Company:
The typical application is a spray of 3–7 seconds (bottle) or 4–10 seconds (aerosol can) from a distance of 3–9 inches until the skin just turns white. No generic version is currently available.
Ethyl Chloride scores a 55 out of 100 on our findability scale, meaning it can be intermittently difficult to find. As a single-source product manufactured exclusively by Gebauer Company, any production delays or raw material issues can lead to temporary supply constraints. There is no active FDA shortage as of early 2025, but individual facilities may experience periodic availability gaps. Because this is classified as an FDA-cleared medical device rather than a traditional drug, it is typically stocked by medical supply distributors rather than retail pharmacies — making it harder for patients to locate on their own.
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Ethyl Chloride is typically used in clinical settings by a variety of healthcare professionals, including:
Since Ethyl Chloride is primarily used in-office by providers, patients typically do not need to obtain it themselves. Telehealth is generally not applicable for this product.
No, Ethyl Chloride is not a DEA-scheduled controlled substance. It is classified as an FDA-cleared prescription medical device (not a drug). However, it carries important safety warnings: it is highly flammable and must never be used near open flames or electrical cautery equipment. Additionally, intentional misuse by inhaling concentrated vapors can cause serious harm or death.
Ethyl Chloride should only be applied by a trained healthcare professional to minimize the risk of side effects.
If Ethyl Chloride is unavailable or unsuitable, several alternatives exist:
Talk to your healthcare provider about which alternative may work best for your situation.
Ethyl Chloride has no known major drug interactions. Because it is a topical vapocoolant that works through localized skin cooling rather than systemic absorption, it does not interact with oral medications, injectables, or other topical products in a clinically significant way.
However, patients should inform their healthcare provider about all medications they are taking, particularly other topical anesthetics being used in the same area, to avoid excessive skin numbing or tissue damage.
Important safety note: Ethyl Chloride is highly flammable. It must never be used near open flames, electrical cautery equipment, or other ignition sources during procedures.
Ethyl Chloride is a niche but important medical device used by healthcare professionals for fast-acting topical pain control. As a single-source product from Gebauer Company, it can occasionally be difficult to find when supply chain issues arise. With a findability score of 55, patients and providers may encounter intermittent availability challenges.
If you're a healthcare provider struggling to stock Ethyl Chloride, consider reaching out to medical supply distributors like McKesson or McGuff, or explore non-flammable alternatives like Gebauer's Pain Ease. Patients undergoing procedures can ask their provider about which vapocoolant will be used.
Use Medfinder to track availability and find Ethyl Chloride in stock near you.
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