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PlainMeds

Over-the-counter medicine

Benzethonium

Benzethonium is an over-the-counter medicine. No generic is listed in FDA's NDC Directory.

  • No generic listed
  • Over the counter

Check it at the source: the benzethonium FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 6, 2026); every benzethonium label on DailyMed.

Highlights of the record

FDA label of August 6, 2026; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026

Used for

From the label: indications and usage

For washing to decrease bacteria on skin

Forms and strengths

  • 0.3 g
  • 0.2 mg
  • 3 mg
  • 200 mg
  • 0.0012 g/g
  • 0.0018 g/g
  • 0.09 mg/9ml
  • 0.1 g/100g
  • 0.12 g/100ml
  • 0.12 g/100g
  • 0.13 g/100ml
  • 0.13 g/100g

Soap; liquid; solution; spray; cloth.

On the market

Generic approvals
No generic approved
Labelers listed (NDC)
36 of which 0 under generic applications, 0 under brand applications, repackagers included

Supply and safety

Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
Not in the survey
Shortage (FDA)
No current entry
Recalls by its makers (FDA)
No recall recorded
FAERS reports
190 through July 30, 2026

What is benzethonium used for?

From the label: indications and usage

For washing to decrease bacteria on skin

Source: FDA drug label (CharmTex Lightly Scented Antibacterial), Yangzhou Jyr daily chemical Co., Ltd, effective August 6, 2026 (SPL set 4b642dfa-f044-4410-81e4-142f0497f0f3), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

Is there a generic for benzethonium?

No generic benzethonium is approved (Drugs@FDA, October 8, 2026).

Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)

What do FAERS reports show for benzethonium?

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 190 reports that list benzethonium among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 22 are coded as a death and 74 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.

The most reported reactions

  • Nausea27
  • Hypersensitivity22
  • Headache20
  • Therapeutic Product Effect Decreased (a use or a product term, not a reaction)17
  • Diarrhoea15
  • Off Label Use (a use or a product term, not a reaction)11
  • Contraindicated Product Administered10
  • Dyspnoea10

Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026

What next?

Benzethonium side effects
the label's list beside FAERS reports
Check an interaction
what two or more labels say about each other