Lidocaine Hci

Lidocaine HCl is used in a wide range of products — from hospital-grade injections to everyday topical pain relievers. Uses vary by product, route, and formulation.

• Lidocaine HCl injections (Lidocaine Hci, LIDOCAINE HCl): local or regional anesthesia for procedures using infiltration, peripheral nerve block, and epidural or caudal techniques
• Lidocaine HCl intravenous injection: emergency management of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (dangerous irregular heart rhythms), including those during heart surgery or a heart attack
• HealthWise Soothing Lidocaine Pain Relief gel: temporary relief of pain and itching from minor burns, sunburn, minor cuts, scrapes, insect bites, and minor skin irritations
• Burn Gel (professional use only): temporary pain relief for minor burns
• Electrum Numb Foam: cleaning minor cuts, scrapes, and burns; temporary relief of discomfort during skin procedures (tattoos, tattoo removal, microblading, electrolysis, piercing)
• Burn Relief, First Shield, GREEN GUARD Topical Pain Relief, and MEDI-FIRST Topical Analgesic sprays: temporary pain relief from minor burns
• Shoe Pain Relief spray: temporary relief of foot pain from fatigue, minor cuts, scrapes, and skin irritations
• Lidocaine Patch: temporary relief of minor pain
• Bruselix Cream and Bruselix Gel: temporary relief of pain
• HealthWise Roll-On Lidocaine Pain Relief Liquid (regular and lavender) and TheraCare Roll-on Lidocaine Pain Relief Liquid (regular and lavender): temporary relief of minor pain

Lidocaine works by blocking sodium channels — tiny gateways in nerve cell membranes that allow the electrical signals for pain to travel. When those channels are blocked, the nerve can't fire, so pain signals stop reaching the brain and the area feels numb. When used intravenously for heart arrhythmias, the same mechanism steadies abnormal electrical activity in the heart's lower chambers, helping restore a normal rhythm.

At therapeutic doses, lidocaine has minimal effects on overall heart function — it does not significantly change blood pressure, heart rate, or the heart's pumping strength in most patients.

How and how often you use lidocaine HCl depends entirely on the product form.

• Injections are administered by a trained healthcare professional — you won't dose these yourself.
• Most topical gels and foams (such as HealthWise Soothing Lidocaine Pain Relief and Burn Gel) are applied a thin film up to 3 to 4 times daily.
• Roll-on liquids (HealthWise and TheraCare brands) are applied every 6 to 8 hours, with no more than 3 applications per day, for adults and children over 12.
• Burn Relief spray: sprayed evenly over the cleaned area up to 3 to 4 times daily; not for children under 12.
• Lidocaine Patch: one patch applied for a maximum of 24 hours in adults and children over 12.

Always follow your prescriber's instructions or the specific product label — do not exceed recommended frequency.

Side effects from lidocaine depend heavily on how it is used — topical products applied to intact skin carry far fewer systemic risks than injections.

• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or drowsiness
• Nervousness, confusion, or euphoria
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Blurred or double vision
• Nausea or vomiting
• Tremors or muscle twitching
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Slow heart rate (bradycardia)

Drowsiness after a lidocaine injection is often an early sign that blood levels are getting too high — tell your care team immediately. Severe reactions including seizures, cardiovascular collapse, or stopped breathing require emergency treatment right away.

• Injection must be used only by trained clinicians with resuscitation equipment on hand — toxic reactions can escalate to seizures, cardiac arrest, and death if not managed immediately.
• Methemoglobinemia (a dangerous blood condition that prevents oxygen delivery) has been reported — look for bluish skin or abnormal blood color and seek emergency care immediately.
• Do not inject lidocaine into a joint after arthroscopic surgery — this is an unapproved use and has caused permanent cartilage damage (chondrolysis) in the shoulder and other joints.
• Always aspirate (pull back on the syringe) before injecting to reduce the risk of accidental injection into a blood vessel.
• Solutions containing preservatives like methylparaben must not be used for epidural or spinal anesthesia.
• Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, can occur — stop use and seek care immediately if they develop.

The FDA label for lidocaine HCl does not detail specific drug-drug or drug-food interactions. Talk to your pharmacist or prescriber about any medications you are taking, especially if you are receiving lidocaine injections.

This is not a complete list of interactions. Always talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

• Do not use lidocaine HCl if you are allergic to amide-type local anesthetics (such as bupivacaine or mepivacaine)
• Lidocaine HCl injection must not be used in people with Stokes-Adams syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, or severe heart conduction block unless an artificial pacemaker is in place
• People with G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency, congenital methemoglobinemia, or heart or lung problems are at higher risk for serious reactions with injections and need close monitoring
• Liver disease or conditions that reduce blood flow to the liver (such as severe heart failure or shock) slow lidocaine's breakdown and increase the risk of toxicity
• Infants under 6 months old are at higher risk for methemoglobinemia
• Most topical products should not be used on children under 2 years old without a doctor's guidance; some are restricted to children over 12
• Lidocaine crosses the placenta — discuss use during pregnancy with your doctor
• Kidney disease does not significantly affect lidocaine itself, but breakdown products can accumulate — your prescriber should be aware

Too much lidocaine in the bloodstream — from excessive dosing, rapid absorption, or accidental injection into a blood vessel — can cause serious problems: seizures, stopped breathing, dangerously low blood pressure, and cardiac arrest. The first priority is maintaining the airway and breathing while monitoring cardiovascular function. Emergency medications (such as benzodiazepines for seizures or IV fluids for low blood pressure) may be needed, and standard CPR should be started if cardiac arrest occurs. Dialysis does not effectively remove lidocaine from the body.

Lidocaine stabilizes nerve cell membranes by blocking the electrical signals (sodium channel activity) that trigger nerve firing. In the heart, it raises the threshold for ventricular fibrillation (a dangerous chaotic heart rhythm) and reduces abnormal automaticity (the tendency of heart cells to fire on their own). At therapeutic doses, lidocaine has minimal impact on blood pressure, heart output, or heart rate in most patients.

Lidocaine is broken down rapidly by the liver — less than 10% leaves the body unchanged through urine. After an intravenous dose, the half-life (time for half the drug to leave the body) is typically 1.5 to 2 hours, but can extend to 3 hours or more after long infusions. Because the liver processes it so quickly, anything that impairs liver function — including severe heart failure or shock — can slow clearance and raise drug levels, increasing the risk of toxicity. Lidocaine also readily crosses the placenta and the blood-brain barrier.

Store at 20°-25°C (68°-77°F) . Protect from freezing.