How long does topical lidocaine work

Make a note of the time that you put the cream on. As soon as you've finished putting the cream on, wash your hands carefully with soap and water. When you're about to have your procedure, take off the dressing and wipe off any excess cream with a tissue.

You may not need to do this if the cream has soaked into your skin. Important Do not use the cream on your eyes, ears, nose or the inside of your mouth, or on your genitals or bottom anus — unless your doctor tells you to.

What if I forget to put it on? Do not apply extra cream, as this will not make the lidocaine work any faster. What if I apply too much? Non-urgent advice: Ask a doctor or nurse for advice if:. Common side effects These common side effects may happen in up to 1 in 10 people. Tell your doctor or nurse if these side effects bother you or do not go away: itching or tingling where the cream was applied pale skin with red spots or mild swelling where the cream was applied Serious allergic reaction It's extremely rare to have an allergic reaction anaphylaxis to a lidocaine.

Information: You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. What to do about: itching or tingling — if this becomes too uncomfortable, take the cream off. Tell the doctor or nurse that you took the cream off early, as your skin may not be numb enough to have the procedure. If possible, contact them as soon as possible for advice pale skin with red spots or mild swelling — this should go away once you take the cream off. If this is still bothering you 24 hours later, contact your doctor.

Important Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding.

Speak to your pharmacist if you have any questions. Mixing lidocaine with herbal remedies and supplements There's very little information about taking herbal medicines and supplements with lidocaine. Important For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

How does lidocaine work? It works by stopping nerves from sending pain signals to your brain. How long does it take to work? Lidocaine cream works relatively quickly. Most people will start to feel a numbing effect within 30 to 60 minutes. How long will I use it for? Do not use it for any other condition without first checking with your doctor. This medicine may cause unwanted effects if it is used too much, because more of it is absorbed into the body through the skin.

This medicine should only be used for problems being treated by your doctor. Check with your doctor before using it for other problems, especially if you think that an infection may be present. This medicine should not be used to treat certain kinds of skin infections or serious problems, such as severe burns. This medicine should come with a patient information and instructions leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. Keep the cream at room temperature and avoid heat and cold on the bandage. They could make the cream work faster or slower than it should. Helpful hints If you take off the bandage with the lidocaine cream on it, fold it in half so the sticky side sticks to itself.

Throw it away in the trash. If you get lidocaine cream on your skin, wash it off with soap and water. If you have concerns about the lidocaine cream getting on your skin, call and ask to speak to the pharmacist. Store the lidocaine cream at room temperature 56—89 degrees F. Throw away any cream if the expiration date on the tube is past. It is important to remember: Keep lidocaine cream away from the ears, eyes, mouth, and open wounds. Throw away any lidocaine cream as soon as the medicine is no longer needed.

Do not let your child wash the area while the bandage is on. These medicines are ones that could cause blisters, such as MRI contrast dye. Your child needs to be able to feel any irritation so we can treat blisters quickly if they happen. If your child had lidocaine cream earlier, it needs to wear off before they get any medicine that could cause blisters.

Side effects of lidocaine All medicines have side effects. These include: Skin turning white where you put the lidocaine cream. It might turn red later but will go back to its usual color in time. Swelling, itching, or rash. These side effects should go away after one 1 or 2 hours. Other ways to have less pain There are ways besides lidocaine cream to make your child more comfortable.

They include: Comfort positions — These are creative ways to help your child stay calm and still when the nurse or doctor needs to use a needle. Comfort positions can help your child feel more in control and successful. Deep breathing and listening to soothing music are some ways to help your child relax.

Supportive treatment of circulatory depression may require administration of intravenous fluids and, when appropriate, a vasopressor as directed by the clinical situation e. If not treated immediately, both convulsions and cardiovascular depression can result in hypoxia, acidosis, bradycardia, arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. If cardiac arrest should occur, standard cardiopulmonary resuscitative measures should be instituted.

This is roughly equivalent to squeezing a six 6 inch length of ointment from the tube. In a 70 kg adult this dose equals 3. No more than one-half tube, approximately 17 g to 20 g of ointment or mg to mg lidocaine base, should be administered in any one day.

It is difficult to recommend a maximum dose of any drug for children since this varies as a function of age and weight. For children less than ten years who have a normal lean body mass and a normal lean body development, the maximum dose may be determined by the application of one of the standard pediatric drug formulas e. For example a child of five years weighing 50 lbs. In any case, the maximum amount of lidocaine administered should not exceed 4.

For medical use, apply topically for adequate control of symptoms. The use of a sterile gauze pad is suggested for application to broken skin tissue. Apply to the tube prior to intubation. In dentistry, apply to previously dried oral mucosa.

Subsequent removal of excess saliva with cotton rolls or saliva ejector minimizes dilution of the ointment, permits maximum penetration, and minimizes the possibility of swallowing the topical ointment. For use in connection with the insertion of new dentures, apply to all denture surfaces contacting mucosa. Pharmacist: If dispensed to a consumer, provide child resistant package for dispensing.

Hemodynamics Excessive blood levels may cause changes in cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, and mean arterial pressure. Pharmacokinetics and metabolism Lidocaine may be absorbed following topical administration to mucous membranes, its rate and extent of absorption depending upon the specific site of application, duration of exposure, concentration, and total dosage.

Lidocaine crosses the blood-brain and placental barriers, presumably by passive diffusion. Methemoglobinemia Cases of methemoglobinemia have been reported in association with local anesthetic use. Information for Patients When topical anesthetics are used in the mouth, the patient should be aware that the production of topical anesthesia may impair swallowing and thus enhance the danger of aspiration.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility Studies of lidocaine in animals to evaluate the carcinogenic and mutagenic potential or the effect on fertility have not been conducted.

Use in Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects. Labor and Delivery Lidocaine is not contraindicated in labor and delivery. Nursing Mothers It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Pediatric Use Dosage in children should be reduced, commensurate with age, body weight and physical condition.