Lidocaine skin cream

Lidocaine is a local anaesthetic. Using the skin cream makes your skin numb. It works by stopping nerves from sending pain signals to your brain.

You can use it before having blood taken or having a drip put in. Your doctor or nurse may also tell you to use it before having a small surgical procedure.

Lidocaine skin cream is available on prescription.

You can also buy it from a pharmacy to use before any cosmetic procedure involving a needle.

Some of the skin creams contain lidocaine mixed with other local anaesthetics such as prilocaine.

There are different types of lidocaine for other conditions, including mouth gels, throat sprays, suppositories and medicated plasters.

Most adults and children can use lidocaine skin cream.

Lidocaine skin cream is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your pharmacist or doctor before using this medicine if:

• you've ever had an allergic reaction to lidocaine or any of the other ingredients
• the skin where you need to use the cream has cuts, rashes, eczema, bleeding or scabs, or if the skin feels sore
• you have any of the rare inherited conditions porphyria, methaemoglobinaemia or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency

Lidocaine skin creams such as EMLA, Denela and Nulbia may not be suitable for people with porphyria, methaemoglobinaemia or G6PD deficiency because they contain a combination of local anaesthetics.

The amount of lidocaine skin cream you use depends on the procedure you're having and the type of lidocaine cream you're using.

Check the instructions that come with the cream or follow the advice of your doctor or nurse.

They may tell you to use a whole tube of cream on each area of your skin, more than 1 tube, or only part of a tube.

If you're having a drip or having blood taken, put the lidocaine cream on 1 hour beforehand.

For minor surgery, your doctor may tell you to use the cream more than 1 hour before the procedure.

If the procedure is delayed and the numbing effects of the cream have worn off, ask your doctor or nurse for advice before using any more cream.

1. Gently squeeze the tube so the cream goes straight onto the area of skin to be treated.
2. Do not rub it in.
3. Place a waterproof dressing over the cream to keep it in place. (The dressings come with the cream.)
4. Make a note of the time that you put the cream on.
5. As soon as you've finished putting the cream on, wash your hands carefully with soap and water.
6. When you're about to have your procedure, take off the dressing and wipe off any excess cream with a tissue. You may not need to do this if the cream has soaked into your skin.

Do not use the cream on your eyes, ears, nose or the inside of your mouth, or on your genitals or bottom (anus), unless your doctor tells you to.

You'll use lidocaine skin cream as a one-off, before a minor procedure like having a blood sample taken.

If you forget to use the cream, or you put it on less than 1 hour before your procedure, tell the person who is going to do the procedure. They may want to delay it.

Do not put on extra cream, as this will not make the lidocaine work any faster.

Using more than the recommended amount can cause side effects. This can also happen if you put the cream on a large area of skin, or use it for longer than recommended.

If you've been prescribed lidocaine, you're unlikely to use too much cream, as a doctor or nurse will usually give you the amount you need for a one-off procedure.

Ask a doctor or nurse for advice if you're worried that you may have used too much lidocaine skin cream.

These common side effects of lidocaine skin cream may happen in up to 1 in 10 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

If this becomes too uncomfortable, take the cream off. Tell the doctor or nurse that you took the cream off early, as your skin may not be numb enough to have the procedure. If possible, contact them as soon as possible for advice.

Paler skin or redness may be less noticeable on brown or black skin. This should go away once you take the cream off. If it is still bothering you 24 hours later, contact your doctor.

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.

It's extremely rare to have an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to lidocaine skin cream.

Call 999 now if:

• your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
• your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
• your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• someone faints and cannot be woken up
• a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

These are not all the side effects of lidocaine skin cream. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Lidocaine is considered safe to use during pregnancy.

Lidocaine is OK to use while breastfeeding. It is only likely to pass into breast milk in tiny amounts, which are very unlikely to cause side effects in your baby.

Always wash your hands after using a lidocaine treatment and before picking up your baby. Be careful to ensure lidocaine cream does not get onto your breast or nipple area. Wash it off thoroughly if it does and before feeding your baby.

Some lidocaine creams contain other ingredients such as prilocaine, which are also OK to use while breastfeeding. Always check the ingredients.

Ask a pharmacist for advice. They will be able to recommend the best treatment for you.

There's no evidence that lidocaine skin cream affects fertility in either men or women.

Tell your doctor if you're:

• trying to get pregnant
• pregnant
• breastfeeding

Lidocaine can sometimes affect the way other medicines work. However, this is more likely when you're using it at higher doses or if you're having lidocaine injections.

If you're following the leaflet instructions of your lidocaine skin cream or using it as your doctor or nurse tells you, it usually will not affect any other medicines.

Speak to your pharmacist if you have any questions.

There's not enough information to say that complementary medicines, herbal remedies and supplements are safe to take with lidocaine. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.