Lidocaine

Lidocaine is a local anesthetic commonly used to numb the body 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 given in various forms, including injections, topical creams, or patches, making it versatile for different medical uses. While generally safe, lidocaine can cause side effects such as dizziness and redness or swelling at the application site. Rarely, if used in excessive amounts, it can cause systemic toxicity.

Lidocaine comes in many different medications and forms. The information below is about brand name Xylocaine^®.

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

Amide local anesthetic

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

Lidocaine creams, gels, patches, sprays, and wipes are available without a prescription from many pharmacies and online retailers, and the cost ranges from about $3 to $30 depending on factors such as the form of the product, quantity, brand, and where you buy it. Coupons or discount cards may be available to reduce the price.

Prescription lidocaine may cost between $10 and $100 depending on the quantity and where you buy it. Health insurance may cover all or some of the cost of this medication.

You can buy lidocaine products over the counter at many pharmacies or via online retailers.

• 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

• 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

• Breastfeeding: It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk

Several other medications are available that can prevent or reduce pain in targeted areas of the body. Some may be better suited to you than others. If you’re interested in finding a lidocaine alternative, talk with your provider to learn more about other medications that may work well for you.

Other local anesthetics include: 

• Benzocaine

• Bupivacaine

• Chloroprocaine

• Cocaine

• Dibucaine

• Etidocaine

• Levobupivacaine

• Mepivacaine

• Procaine

• Ropivacaine

• Tetracaine

Of these, only benzocaine and dibucaine are available without a prescription.

*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.