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Lidocaine
Septocaine
Lidocaine is a local anesthetic commonly used to numb tissues in a specific area before surgical procedures, dental work, or minor skin treatments. It works by blocking sodium channels in nerve cells, preventing the transmission of pain signals. Lidocaine can be administered through various forms, including injections, topical creams, and patches, making it versatile for different medical applications. While generally safe, lidocaine can cause side effects such as redness or swelling at the application site, dizziness, and, in rare cases, systemic toxicity if used in excessive amounts.
Lidocaine has many different types and names. The information below is about brand name Xylocaine®.
Septocaine® (articaine hydrochloride and epinephrine bitartrate) is a local anesthetic containing articaine and epinephrine, commonly used in dental procedures to provide local, infiltrative, or conductive anesthesia. It acts quickly, with anesthesia onset typically occurring within 1–6 minutes and lasting for approximately 1 hour. While effective, it can cause side effects such as tongue pain, swelling, headaches, and numbness, and it should be used cautiously in patients with certain health conditions, including heart rhythm disorders and sulfite allergies.
Prescription
Prescription
Amide local anesthetic
Articaine: amide local anesthetic
Epinephrine: vasoconstrictor
Xylocaine® (lidocaine hydrochloride) injections are indicated:
For production of local or regional anesthesia by infiltration techniques such as percutaneous injection and intravenous regional anesthesia by peripheral nerve block techniques such as brachial plexus and intercostal and by central neural techniques such as lumbar and caudal epidural blocks, when the accepted procedures for these techniques as described in standard textbooks are observed
Septocaine (articaine hydrochloride and epinephrine bitartrate) is indicated:
For local, infiltrative, or conductive anesthesia in both simple and complex dental procedures in adults and pediatric patients 4 years of age or older
See the Full Prescribing Information for important administration instructions
Comes as an injection
See the Full Prescribing Information for important administration instructions
Comes as an injection
Adverse experiences following the administration of lidocaine hydrochloride are similar in nature to those observed with other amide local anesthetic agents. These adverse experiences are, in general, dose-related and may result from high plasma levels caused by excessive dosage, rapid absorption or inadvertent intravascular injection, or may result from a hypersensitivity, idiosyncrasy or diminished tolerance on the part of the patient. Serious adverse experiences are generally systemic in nature. The following types are those most commonly reported:
Central nervous system
Cardiovascular system
Allergic
Neurologic
Hematologic
The most common adverse reactions (incidence >2%) are:
Headache
Pain
Lidocaine hydrochloride is contraindicated in patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to local anesthetics of the amide type
Drug interactions: Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, phenothiazines, butyrophenones, vasopressor drugs, ergot-type oxytocic drugs
Known hypersensitivity to sulfite
Drug interactions: Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, nonselective beta-adrenergic antagonists, tricyclic antidepressants, phenothiazines, butyrophenones
The safety and effectiveness of lidocaine hydrochloride depend on proper dosage, correct technique, adequate precautions, and readiness for emergencies
Xylocaine injections for infiltration and nerve block should be employed only by clinicians who are well versed in diagnosis and management of dose-related toxicity and other acute emergencies that might arise from the block to be employed and then only after ensuring the immediate availability of oxygen, other resuscitative drugs, cardiopulmonary equipment and the personnel needed for proper management of toxic reactions and related emergencies
Pregnancy: Pregnancy Category B
Labor and delivery: Local anesthetics rapidly cross the placenta and when used for epidural, paracervical, pudendal or caudal block anesthesia, can cause varying degrees of maternal, fetal and neonatal toxicity
Nursing mothers: It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk
Accidental intravascular injection: May be associated with convulsions followed by coma and respiratory arrest
Systemic toxicity: Systemic absorption of Septocaine can produce effects on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems
Vasoconstrictor toxicity: Local anesthetic solutions like Septocaine that contain a vasoconstrictor should be used cautiously, especially in patients with impaired cardiovascular function or vascular disease
Methemoglobinemia
Pregnancy: Based on animal studies, may cause fetal harm
Nursing mothers: Exercise caution when administering to a nursing woman
*This information is from the label for brand name Xylocaine®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Lidocaine has many different types and names, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include lidocaine.
*This information is from the label for brand name Septocaine®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information.
The information provided here is NOT MEDICAL ADVICE and is for informational and educational purposes only. The drug comparison tool does not determine eligibility for medications or treatments provided via the Hims/Hers platform. Consultation with a healthcare provider is required to assess suitability for any medical treatment based on individual health and medical history. All product names and associated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.