Sunday 1 April 2012

Lidocaine Cream



Pronunciation: L Y E-doe-cane
Generic Name: Lidocaine
Brand Name: Examples include L-M-X4 and LidaMantle


Lidocaine Cream is used for:

Treating pain, itching, soreness, and discomfort of the skin or mucous membranes due to certain conditions such as eczema, scratches, minor burns, insect bites, and hemorrhoids.


Lidocaine Cream is an anesthetic. It works by preventing nerves from transmitting painful impulses to the brain.


Do NOT use Lidocaine Cream if:


  • you are allergic to any ingredient in Lidocaine Cream or to similar medications (eg, amide-type local anesthetics)

  • there are signs of infection (eg, oozing, warmth, pain) or tissue damage in the affected area

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.



Before using Lidocaine Cream:


Some medical conditions may interact with Lidocaine Cream. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:


  • if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding

  • if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement

  • if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances

  • if you have had a severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, difficulty breathing, dizziness) to any anesthetic medicine

  • if you have heart, liver, or kidney problems

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Lidocaine Cream. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:


  • Amiodarone, beta-blockers (eg, atenolol), cimetidine, or mexiletine because side effects, such as sluggishness, confusion, slow breathing, low blood pressure, or slow heartbeat, may occur

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Lidocaine Cream may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.


How to use Lidocaine Cream:


Use Lidocaine Cream as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.


  • Wash and completely dry the affected area. Apply a thin layer of Lidocaine Cream to the affected area. Gently rub the medicine in until it is evenly distributed.

  • Wash your hands immediately after using Lidocaine Cream, unless your hands are part of the treated area.

  • Lidocaine Cream is for external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. If contact occurs, wash out the eye at once with water or saline and protect it until the numbness is gone.

  • Do not bandage or wrap the affected area, unless directed otherwise by your doctor.

  • If you miss a dose of Lidocaine Cream, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Lidocaine Cream.



Important safety information:


  • Lidocaine Cream may cause harm if it is swallowed. If you may have taken it by mouth, contact your poison control center or emergency room right away.

  • Lidocaine Cream may cause a numbing effect at the application site. Do not scratch, rub, or expose the area to extreme hot or cold temperatures until the numbness is gone.

  • Use caution when applying Lidocaine Cream over large areas.

  • Do not use more medicine, apply more often, or use for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve faster, but the risk of side effects may be increased.

  • Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Lidocaine Cream before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.

  • PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: It is not known if Lidocaine Cream can cause harm to the fetus. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Lidocaine Cream while you are pregnant. It is not known if Lidocaine Cream is found in breast milk after topical use. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Lidocaine Cream, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.


Possible side effects of Lidocaine Cream:


All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:



Redness or swelling at the application site.



Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); excessive irritation; signs of infection in the affected area (eg, warmth, oozing, pain).



This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.



If OVERDOSE is suspected:


Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Lidocaine Cream may be harmful if swallowed.


Proper storage of Lidocaine Cream:

Store Lidocaine Cream at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Keep Lidocaine Cream out of the reach of children and away from pets.


General information:


  • If you have any questions about Lidocaine Cream, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

  • Lidocaine Cream is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.

  • If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

  • Discard unused medicine and packaging in the trash out of the reach of children and pets.

  • Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Lidocaine Cream. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.



Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Lidocaine resources


  • Lidocaine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Lidocaine Support Group
  • 22 Reviews for Lidocaine - Add your own review/rating


Compare Lidocaine with other medications


  • Anal Itching
  • Anesthesia
  • Burns, External
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Pain
  • Persisting Pain, Shingles
  • Pruritus
  • Sunburn

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