Derma Numb

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.

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• disopyramide (Norpace)
• flecainide (Tambocor)
• medications applied to the skin or mouth to treat pain
• mexiletine (Mexitil)
• moricizine (Ethmozine)
• procainamide (Procanabid, Pronestyl)
• propafenone (Rhythmol)
• quinidine (Quinidex)
• tocainide (Tonocard)

This is not a complete list of lidocaine drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking lidocaine, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor 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)
• have Stokes-Adams syndrome or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
• have sinoatrial, atrioventricular, or intraventricular block
• have or have had liver disease
• are having surgery, including dental surgery
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if lidocaine crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using lidocaine.

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.

If you take too much lidocaine, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If lidocaine is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.