Lidocaine Ophthalmic

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For lidocaine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to lidocaine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of lidocaine ophthalmic gel have not been performed in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of lidocaine ophthalmic gel in the elderly.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving lidocaine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using lidocaine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Amiodarone

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take lidocaine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Use care when driving or doing other tasks that call for clear eyesight.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using this medicine while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

• Lidocaine Hydrochloride
• Lignocaine Hydrochloride

Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.

Gel, Ophthalmic, as hydrochloride [preservative free]:

Akten: 3.5% (1 mL)

5 to 30 minutes (median: 15 minutes)

There are no contraindications listed in the manufacturer's labeling

Anesthesia, ocular: Apply 2 drops to ocular surface in area where procedure will occur; may reapply to maintain effect.

Anesthesia, ocular: Refer to adult dosing

Store at 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). Protect from light. Discard after use.