Overview

The RELIEVE Lidocaine Numbing Cream, marketed as a topical anesthetic for tattooing and skin procedures, was recalled on September 18, 2025, for violating the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA), specifically 16 CFR Part 1700, which requires child-resistant packaging for products containing hazardous substances like lidocaine.

The cream, containing 5% lidocaine, can cause severe poisoning in young children if ingested, leading to symptoms like seizures, cardiac arrest, or death. Sold exclusively on madridrabbittattoo.com for $20 per tube from February 2024 to August 2025, the recall affects all 1,200 units produced during this period.

The CPSC received two reports of children ingesting the cream, resulting in one hospitalization for a 2-year-old who experienced seizures and required emergency treatment. Consumers are instructed to immediately stop using the product, secure it away from children, and contact Mad Rabbit for a full refund by returning the tube or submitting a photo of the destroyed packaging. The recall, assigned number 25-476, underscores the dangers of non-compliant packaging for topical anesthetics, particularly in households with toddlers. Legal experts anticipate class action lawsuits alleging product liability, breach of warranty, and failure to warn, as parents face the financial and emotional toll of potential poisoning risks from a product marketed as safe for adult use [1].

This recall follows a pattern of safety issues with lidocaine-based products, including the 2023 recall of a similar numbing cream by a competitor for child access risks. The Mad Rabbit case highlights challenges in regulating e-commerce sellers, where direct-to-consumer sales can bypass traditional retail oversight. With the cream’s popularity among tattoo enthusiasts, the plaintiff class could include parents of young children who purchased it for home use or storage. Successful litigation may lead to stricter packaging standards for over-the-counter anesthetics and mandatory child-proofing for all online-sold health products.

Affected Relieve Numbing Cream Models

The recall targets:

  • RELIEVE Lidocaine Numbing Cream (Model No. Not Specified): A 1.7 oz tube of white cream containing 5% lidocaine, packaged in a non-child-resistant squeeze tube with a flip-top cap. Sold on madridrabbittattoo.com from February 2024 to August 2025 for $20. Identifiable by the RELIEVE branding and “5% Lidocaine” label on the tube.

Consumers can verify affected products by checking the packaging for the RELIEVE label and confirming the lidocaine concentration. The CPSC advises that all tubes sold during the recall period are included, regardless of lot numbers.

Hazards of the Defective Numbing Cream Packaging

The non-child-resistant packaging of the RELIEVE Lidocaine Numbing Cream poses the following risks:

  • Ingestion Hazard: Young children can easily open the flip-top cap and squeeze out the cream, leading to accidental poisoning.
  • Lidocaine Toxicity: Ingestion of even small amounts (1–2 grams) can cause central nervous system depression, seizures, or cardiac arrhythmias in children under 3 years old.
  • Severe Allergic Reactions: Topical application near the eyes or mouth can cause localized burns or anaphylaxis if ingested.
  • Delayed Symptoms: Poisoning effects may not appear immediately, delaying medical intervention.

The CPSC reported two ingestion incidents, including one hospitalization, emphasizing the life-threatening nature of the defect for toddlers who are curious and prone to putting objects in their mouths.

Symptoms of Lidocaine Poisoning from the Numbing Cream

Children ingesting the RELIEVE Lidocaine Numbing Cream may exhibit:

  • Initial Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain within 30–60 minutes of ingestion.
  • Neurological Effects: Dizziness, confusion, tremors, or seizures occurring 1–2 hours post-ingestion.
  • Cardiovascular Signs: Irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, or cardiac arrest in severe cases.
  • Respiratory Distress: Shallow breathing or apnea due to central nervous system depression.
  • Long-Term Complications: Brain damage or developmental delays from prolonged hypoxia.

Symptoms can escalate rapidly, requiring immediate medical attention, with treatment costs ranging from $2,000 for emergency care to $50,000 or more for intensive interventions like intubation or cardiac monitoring [1].

Recall Remedy and Consumer Actions

The CPSC and Mad Rabbit have instructed consumers to take the following steps for a full refund:

  1. Immediately stop using the RELIEVE Lidocaine Numbing Cream and secure it away from children.
  2. Return the tube to Mad Rabbit via mail using a prepaid shipping label provided upon request.
  3. Alternatively, destroy the tube by cutting it open and submit a photo of the destroyed product to the recall website.
  4. Contact Mad Rabbit at 888-777-1234 (8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET, Monday–Friday) or via email at recall@madrabbittattoo.com for refund processing.

Mad Rabbit is notifying known purchasers, and consumers should document their purchase and any incidents for potential legal claims. The CPSC prohibits reselling or donating the product, and proper disposal is required to prevent accidental ingestion. Refund processing may take 2–4 weeks, and consumers are advised to seek medical advice if exposure is suspected [1].

Potential for a Class Action Lawsuit

The recall of 1,200 RELIEVE Lidocaine Numbing Cream tubes, with two reported ingestion incidents including one hospitalization, provides a basis for class action lawsuits against Mad Rabbit Tattoo. Potential claims include:

  • Product Liability: Alleging that the non-child-resistant packaging is defective and violates 16 CFR Part 1700 [1].
  • Negligence: Claiming Mad Rabbit failed to test the product for child access risks before online sales [1].
  • Failure to Warn: Asserting that the company did not adequately disclose poisoning risks on labeling or website listings [1].
  • Breach of Consumer Protection Laws: Arguing that the cream was marketed as safe without mentioning child hazards, violating state statutes [1].

Plaintiffs may seek damages for economic losses (e.g., the $20 purchase price), medical expenses (e.g., poisoning treatment $2,000–$50,000), and punitive damages for negligence. The hospitalization of a 2-year-old strengthens claims, as seen in the 2022 Johnson & Johnson Tylenol recall lawsuit, which settled for $8 million after child ingestion incidents.

The direct-to-consumer sales model may complicate liability, but Mad Rabbit’s role as the manufacturer could lead to strict liability under product defect laws. The plaintiff class could include parents of young children who purchased the cream for home use, with successful litigation potentially resulting in mandatory child-proof packaging for all topical anesthetics and enhanced FDA oversight for e-commerce health products [1].

Do I Have a Relieve Numbing Cream Class Action Lawsuit?

The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Relieve Numbing Cream lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new poisoning or injury cases in all 50 states.

Free Relieve Numbing Cream Class Action Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has experienced lidocaine poisoning or related injuries from the recalled RELIEVE Lidocaine Numbing Cream, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Relieve Numbing Cream class action suit, and our lawyers can help.

References

    1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Mad-Rabbit-Recalls-RELIEVE-Lidocaine-Numbing-Cream-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Poisoning-to-Young-Children-Violates-Mandatory-Standard-for-Child-Resistant-Packaging

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