Anestacaine

Lidocaine is a prescription medication used to prevent pain before procedures or to relieve pain due to certain conditions. Lidocaine belongs to a group of drugs called local anesthetics. These stop nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.

This medication comes in several topical forms, including a patch to be applied to the skin (transdermal), ointment, cream, and oral solution. Lidocaine is an ingredient in some over-the-counter topical pain relievers. This page refers to the prescription forms of lidocaine.

This medication is also available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) or for infiltration and nerve block by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of topical lidocaine include irritation at site of application. Common side effects of injectable lidocaine include confusion, nervousness, and numbness. Lidocaine may also cause dizziness and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how this medication affects you. 

Topical:

Lidocaine is a prescription medication used to prevent pain before procedures or to relieve pain due to certain conditions.  Lidocaine patches may be used to treat pain due to post-herpetic neuralgia. Lidocaine ointment, gel, and cream are used to prevent and control pain during procedures, such as intubation and eye surgery, and relieve pain due to conditions such as inflammation of the urethra and sore throat. Lidocaine oral solution is used to treat pain in the mouth.

Injectable:

Injectable lidocaine is used as an anesthetic during surgical procedures.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Topical:

Serious side effects have been reported with topical lidocaine including the following:

Allergic reactions. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction.

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• Hives or skin rash
• Fast heartbeat
• Fast breathing
• Nausea or vomiting
• Confusion
• Weakness
• Fainting
• Seizures or convulsions

Injectable:

Serious side effects have been reported with injectable lidocaine including the following:

Allergic reactions. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction.

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• Hives or skin rash
• Fast pulse
• Fast breathing
• Nausea or vomiting
• Confusion
• Weakness
• Fainting
• Seizures or convulsions

Injectable lidocaine may also affect the central nervous system, including lightheadedness, nervousness, blurred or double vision, altered sensations, and changes in respiration.

Injectable lidocaine may also affect the cardiovascular system, including changes in heartbeat, decreased blood pressure, and cardiac arrest.

Lidocaine can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how lidocaine affects you.

Do not take lidocaine if you:

• are allergic to lidocaine or to any of its ingredients
• are allergic to other local anesthetics, including bupivacaine (Marcaine), etidocaine (Duranest), mepivacaine (Carbocaine, Prolocaine), or prilocaine (Citanest)

Additionally, do not take injectable lidocaine if you:

• have Stokes-Adams syndrome or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
• have sinoatrial, atrioventricular, or intraventricular block

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Lidocaine falls into category B.

There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with lidocaine. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. The dose and frequency of use of lidocaine will depend on the condition being treated or the procedure you will undergo.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication

Do not use topical forms of lidocaine on broken or blistered skin.

Do not swallow the oral solution of lidocaine. Swish and/or gargle in your mouth and/or throat and spit out the solution.

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

Lidocaine injection is used to numb an area of your body to help reduce pain or discomfort caused by invasive medical procedures such as surgery, needle punctures, or insertion of a catheter or breathing tube.

Lidocaine injection is sometimes used to treat irregular heart rhythms that may signal a possible heart attack.

Lidocaine injection is also given in an epidural (spinal block) to reduce the discomfort of contractions during labor.

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

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

• cimetidine, fluvoxamine, nefazodone, St John's wort;

• antibiotic or antifungal medicine;

• antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis or HIV/AIDS;

• heart or blood pressure medicine--amiodarone, digoxin, nicardipine, procainamide, propranolol;

• seizure medicine--carbamazepine, phenytoin; or

• tuberculosis medicine--isoniazid, rifampin.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with lidocaine injection, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.