Zilactin L

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 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.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Talk with your doctor before you use other drugs or products on your skin.
• Do not use Zilactin L for longer than you were told by your doctor.
• Do not eat while your mouth feels numb. You may bite your tongue.
• Do not scratch or rub the skin while it is numb. Do not let it get very hot or very cold.
• Do not use coverings (bandages, dressings, make-up) unless told to do so by the doctor.
• Use care when putting on a large part of the skin or where there are open wounds. Talk with the doctor.
• Do not put on cuts, scrapes, or damaged skin unless the doctor tells you to.
• Avoid use of heat sources (such as sunlamps, tanning beds, heating pads, electric blankets, heat lamps, saunas, hot tubs, heated waterbeds). Avoid long, hot baths or sunbathing. Your temperature may rise and cause too much drug to pass into your body.
• This medicine may cause harm if swallowed. If this medicine is swallowed, call a doctor or poison control center right away.
• If you are 65 or older, use Zilactin L with care. You could have more side effects.
• Use with care in children. Talk with the doctor.
• 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.

Use Zilactin L as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Shake well before use.
• Follow how to use carefully.
• If using as a rinse, swish it in mouth as long as you can. Swallow or spit out as you are told.
• If putting on with a cotton swab, put on affected part as your doctor or the label tells you.
• Do not eat anything for at least 60 minutes (1 hour) after you use this medicine.
• Measure liquid doses carefully.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• If you use Zilactin L on a regular basis, put on a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not put on 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
• Many times this medicine is used on an as needed basis. Do not use more often than told by the doctor.

• Store at room temperature. Do not freeze.
• Protect from heat.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about Zilactin L (lidocaine liquid and solution), please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• 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.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about Zilactin L. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using Zilactin L.

Review Date: October 4, 2017