AneCream with Tegaderm

Lidocaine is a local anesthetic (numbing medication). It works by blocking nerve signals in your body.

Lidocaine topical (for use on the skin) is used to reduce pain or discomfort caused by skin irritations such as sunburn, insect bites, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and minor cuts, scratches, or burns. Lidocaine topical is also used to treat rectal discomfort caused by hemorrhoids.

Lidocaine topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

An overdose of numbing medicine can cause fatal side effects if too much of the medicine is absorbed through your skin.

Do not use large amounts of lidocaine topical, or cover treated skin areas with a bandage or plastic wrap without medical advice.

Keep both used and unused lidocaine skin patches out of the reach of children or pets. The amount of lidocaine in the skin patches could be harmful to a child or pet who accidentally sucks on or swallows the patch.

You should not use lidocaine topical if you are allergic to any type of numbing medicine.

Fatal overdoses have occurred when numbing medicines were used without the advice of a medical doctor (such as during a cosmetic procedure like laser hair removal). However, overdose has also occurred in women treated with a numbing medicine before having a mammography.

Be aware that many cosmetic procedures are performed without a medical doctor present.

To make sure lidocaine topical is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease; or

• if you take a heart rhythm medicine.

Lidocaine topical is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether lidocaine topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Since lidocaine topical is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied lidocaine. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.