Dibucaine is used as a local anesthetic for surface anesthesia. It is one of the most potent and toxic of the long-acting local anesthetics and its parenteral use is restricted to spinal anesthesia. Dibucaine is used to temporarily relieve pain and itching due to: hemorrhoids or other anorectal disorders, sunburn, minor burns, minor cuts; scrapes, insect bites, minor skin irritation. This drug acts via blocking of nerve impulses by decreasing the neuronal membrane's permeability to sodium ions through sodium channel blocking. This reversibly stabilizes the membrane and inhibits depolarization, resulting in the failure of a propagated action potential and subsequent conduction blockade.

Benzocaine is a local anesthetic. It acts by blocking voltage-gated sodium ion channels in nerve endings. Benzocaine is available over-the counter for local anesthesia of oral and pharyngeal mucous membranes (sore throat, cold sores, mouth ulcers, toothache, sore gums, denture irritation), otic pain, and as a local anesthetic for surgical or diagnostic procedures. As a spray, benzocaine is used for temporary relief of pain and itching associated with minor burns, sunburn, minor cuts or scrapes, insect bites, or minor skin irritations. Topical application of benzocaine to gums or mouth may cause rare, but serious and potentially fatal adverse effect methemoglobinemia.