Product type Analgesic heat rub Produced by Johnson & Johnson Previous owners Pfizer | Owner Johnson & Johnson Markets Over-the-counter drug | |
Introduced 1898, first developed in France by Dr. Jules Bengué | ||
Bengay, spelled Ben-Gay before 1995, is an analgesic heat rub used to temporarily relieve muscle and joint pain associated with arthritis, bruises, simple backaches, sprains and strains.
Contents
Overview
Bengay was developed in France by Dr. Jules Bengué, and brought to America in 1898. The name Bengué was anglicized to Bengay. It was originally produced by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, which was acquired by Johnson & Johnson. The product is used topically for adults and children 12 years of age and older, and no more than 3 to 4 times daily. The manufacturer recommends storing the product between 20⁰ and 25⁰C (68⁰ and 77⁰F).
Hazards
Methyl salicylate is an active ingredient in Bengay, which can be toxic when large doses are administered. In October 2007 in the United States, a teenage athlete overdosed and died from overexposure to methyl salicylate. This was a rare occurrence, in which the person had "more than six times the safe amount of the ingredient in her body."
Bengay and other products such as Flexall, Mentholatum, Capzasin and Icy Hot have a potential to cause first- to third-degree chemical burns. Some people have been hospitalized after receiving such burns. Products containing menthol, methyl salicylate and capsaicin as active ingredients have the potential to cause such burns.
Active ingredients
The active ingredients vary by the version of the product.
Methyl salicylate can be toxic if the cream is used in excess.
Other uses
Bengay can be used to remove chewing gum from clothing, because the methyl salicylate serves to diffuse the gum base.