Lidocaine and Prilocaine (Topical)

Brand Names : EMLA, lignocaine

Before Using This Medicine

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

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to lidocaine, prilocaine, or other local anesthetics given by injection or applied to any part of the body as a liquid, cream, ointment, or spray. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - This mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, lidocaine and prilocaine (separately) have been given to pregnant women and have not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems.

Breast-feeding - Small amounts of lidocaine, and probably of prilocaine also, pass into breast milk. Many medicines that pass into breast milk in small amounts may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are breast-feeding and who wish to use this medicine should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - This medicine has been tested in children. Very young children (less than 1 year of age) may be especially sensitive to the effects of lidocaine and prilocaine. This may increase the chance of side effects. However, in effective doses, this medicine has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in children older than 1 year of age than it does in adults.

Young children are often frightened when they receive injections or have other painful procedures done. This medicine helps prevent pain, but it will not calm a frightened child. Parents can help by staying calm and by comforting and reassuring the child.

Older adults - This medicine has not been studied specifically in older people. However, it is possible that the chance of some side effects may be increased in elderly people. Experience with local anesthetics given by injection or applied to other areas of the body (for example, the throat or the inside of the mouth) has shown that elderly people are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of local anesthetics.

Other 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. Before using this medicine, tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine, especially:

• Sulfonamides (sulfa medicine) - The chance of a side effect (methemoglobinemia) may be increased, especially in infants.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Broken or inflamed skin, burns, or open wounds at place of application or
• Atopic dermatitis or
• Eczema - More of this medicine can be absorbed into the body quickly, which increases the chance of side effects

• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency - A possible side effect of this medicine (methemoglobinemia) may be more likely to occur

• Liver disease (severe) - The chance of side effects may be increased if large amounts of this medicine are absorbed into the body quickly

• Methemoglobinemia - This medicine may make your condition worse