Lidocaine (Topical)

Brand Names : Lidoderm

Before Using This Medicine

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 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 - Lidocaine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, lidocaine has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.

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

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of lidocaine topical systems in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of lidocaine topical systems in the elderly with use in other age groups.

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. When you are using lidocaine topical systems, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking or using any other prescription or nonprescription medicine.

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

• Broken or inflamed skin, burns, or open wounds at the place of application - More of this medicine can be absorbed into the body quickly, which increases the chance of side effects
• Liver disease (severe) - The risk of side effects may be increased because of slower removal of lidocaine from the body