lidocaine injection

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Pronunciation: LYE doe kane

Brand: Anestacaine, Dilocaine, L-Caine, Lidoject 1, Nervocaine, Truxacaine, UAD Caine, Xylocaine HCl

What is the most important information I should know about lidocaine injection?

You should not receive this medicine if you have severe heart block, or a heart rhythm disorder called Stokes-Adams syndrome or Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.

What is lidocaine injection?

Lidocaine injection is a local anesthetic (numbing medication). It works by blocking nerve signals in your body.

Lidocaine injection is used to numb an area of your body to help reduce pain or discomfort caused by invasive medical procedures such as surgery, needle punctures, or insertion of a catheter or breathing tube.

Lidocaine injection is sometimes used to treat irregular heart rhythms that may signal a possible heart attack.

Lidocaine injection is also given in an epidural (spinal block) to reduce the discomfort of contractions during labor.

Lidocaine injection may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving lidocaine injection?

You should not receive this medicine if you are allergic to lidocaine injection or any other type of numbing medicine, or if you have:

  • severe heart block;
  • a heart rhythm disorder called Stokes-Adams syndrome (sudden slow heart beats that can cause you to faint); or
  • a heart rhythm disorder called Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (sudden fast heartbeats that can cause you to faint or become easily tired).

To make sure lidocaine injection is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • an allergy to corn products;
  • liver disease;
  • kidney disease;
  • heart disease (unless you are being treated with lidocaine injection for a heart condition);
  • coronary artery disease, circulation problems; or
  • a history of malignant hyperthermia.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

Lidocaine can pass into breast milk, but effects on the nursing baby are not known. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

How is lidocaine injection given?

A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Lidocaine injection is injected into a vein through an IV to treat heart rhythm problems.

When used as a numbing medicine, lidocaine injection is injected through the skin directly into the body area to be numbed.

Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be watched closely while you are receiving lidocaine injection in a hospital setting.

If you are being treated for irregular heart rhythm, your heart rate will be constantly monitored using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG). This will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with lidocaine injection.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since lidocaine injection is used only when needed in a clinical setting, you are not likely to miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid after receiving lidocaine injection?

Lidocaine injection can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Unless absolutely necessary, do not drive after receiving this medicine.

Avoid eating or chewing within 1 hour after lidocaine injection is used to numb your mouth or throat. You may have trouble swallowing which could lead to choking. You may also accidentally bite the inside of your mouth if you are still numb an hour after treatment with lidocaine injection.

What are the possible side effects of lidocaine injection?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregiver right away if you have:

  • twitching, tremors, seizure (convulsions);
  • a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
  • slow heart rate, weak pulse, weak or shallow breathing;
  • sudden feeling of warmth with muscle stiffness and pain;
  • dark urine;
  • blue appearance of the skin; or
  • severe anxiety, unusual fear or uneasy feeling.

Common side effects may include:

  • drowsiness, dizziness;
  • vomiting;
  • feeling hot or cold;
  • confusion, ringing in your ears, blurred vision, double vision; or
  • numbness in places where the medicine is accidentally applied.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect lidocaine injection?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

  • cimetidine, fluvoxamine, nefazodone, St John's wort;
  • antibiotic or antifungal medicine;
  • antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis or HIV/AIDS;
  • heart or blood pressure medicine --amiodarone, digoxin, nicardipine, procainamide, propranolol;
  • seizure medicine --carbamazepine, phenytoin; or
  • tuberculosis medicine --isoniazid, rifampin.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with lidocaine injection, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about lidocaine injection.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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