Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Cocaine Hydrochloride Solution 10%w/v (Macarthys)
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Cocaine hydrochloride may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
for Cocaine Hydrochloride is a local anaesthetic. Cocaine Solution is used to numb an area of the ear, nose or throat ready for surgery. It may also be used to reduce bleeding in the area during surgery.
2. Before Cocaine Solution is given
How to take it
4. Possible side effects 5. How to store Cocaine Solution 6. Further information
This medicine is a solution which will be given to you by a doctor using a pump dispenser. The solution will be sprayed directly on to the inside of the area to be numbed. Adults: The usual dose is a maximum of 1.5mg per kilogram of body weight. The elderly and children: This medicine is not suitable for the elderly and children. If you think you have been given too much Cocaine Solution This medicine will be given to you by your doctor so it is unlikely that you will be given too much. If you are concerned about your treatment, please talk to your doctor. 4. Possible side effects Like all medicines, Cocaine Solution can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
This leaflet contains a summary of the information available for this medicine. You should ask your doctor or nurse if you are unsure about any aspect of this medicine.
Possible side effects
include:
- restlessness, excitement, a feeling of intense happiness
- excessive talking or rambling
- involuntary or jerky movements
- confusion, paranoia
- seeing or hearing things that are not real, mental disturbances
- changes in your sensation of touch
- a rise in body temperature
- fast breathing
- a migraine-like headache
- high blood pressure
- enlarged pupils
- sweating, shaking, fits
- rumbling stomach
- a lack of blood in the fingers, toes, spinal cord, kidneys, spleen, and intestines
- problems sleeping
- loss of appetite.
You should not be given Cocaine Solution if:
- you are allergic (hypersensitive) to Cocaine Hydrochloride or other local anaesthetics, or to any of the other ingredients of the solution listed in section 6 of this leaflet
- you suffer from glaucoma (raised pressure in the eye)
- you suffer from a disease that causes muscle weakness, known as myasthenia gravis
- you or any of your close relatives suffer from a blood enzyme (pseudocholinesterase) deficiency
- you suffer from epilepsy (fits)
- you have porphyria (a blood disorder). Cocaine Solution is not suitable for children and the elderly. Take special care with Cocaine Solution Tell your doctor if:
- you have open wounds in the area to be numbed
- you have high blood pressure or heart problems
- you have thyroid problems
- you have diabetes.
If any of these side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or nurse.
If any of the above applies to you, please tell your doctor or nurse. Taking other medicines Please tell your doctor or nurse if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
How to store it
Cocaine Solution Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
This product will be stored by your doctor below 25°C and protected from light in the original carton
6. Further Information What Cocaine Solution contains: The active substance is Cocaine Hydrochloride Ph Eur 10%w/v The other ingredients are dilute hydrochloric acid and water for injections. What Cocaine Solution looks like and contents of the pack: Cocaine Solution is supplied in clear glass bottles. Each bottle contains 2.5ml of solution. A pump and actuator are included in the pack. Marketing Authorisation Holder: Manufacturer: Aurum Pharmaceuticals Ltd Macarthys Laboratories Limited, Bampton Road, Harold Hill Bampton Road, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex, Romford, Essex, RM3 8UG, UK RM3 8UG, United Kingdom. Product Licence Number: PL 12064/0016 Date of last Revision: July 2020 If you would like any more information, or would like the leaflet in a different format, please contact Medical Information at the above address.
D05361
Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
- ecothiopate eye drops (a medicine used to treat glaucoma)
- neostigmine (a medicine used to treat myasthenia gravis)
- medicines that affect the nervous system e.g. adrenaline, ephedrine or amphetamines
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) a group of medicines used to treat severe depression
- medicines used to treat high blood pressure e.g. guanethidine sulphate and reserpine
- medicines used to treat depression (tricyclic anti-depressants) e.g. imipramine and amitriptyline
- CNS depressants (medicines that act on the brain and can cause drowsiness or sleepiness e.g. opiates and barbiturates). You are advised not to drink alcohol whilst being treated with Cocaine Solution. Pregnancy & breast-feeding You should not be given this medicine if you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding. Driving and using machines You should not drive or use machinery after being given Cocaine Solution until your doctor advises that you are safe to do so. Continued overleaf
You should not be given this medicine if it has passed the expiry date printed on the bottle. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. The doctor or nurse will check that the product has not passed this date.
100mm Measurement Verification Bar
Frequently asked questions about Cocaine Hydrochloride Solution 10%w/v (Macarthys)
How do I take Cocaine Hydrochloride Solution 10%w/v (Macarthys)?
Cocaine Hydrochloride Solution 10%w/v (Macarthys) comes as solution containing 10%. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
What is the active substance in Cocaine Hydrochloride Solution 10%w/v (Macarthys)?
The active substance in Cocaine Hydrochloride Solution 10%w/v (Macarthys) is cocaine hydrochloride.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Cocaine Hydrochloride Solution 10%w/v (Macarthys), as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Cocaine Hydrochloride Solution 10%w/v (Macarthys) without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: cocaine hydrochloride
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Cocaine Hydrochloride Solution 10%w/v (Macarthys). The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.