Lidocaine Anesthetic

Lidocaine Anesthetic is a prescription medication used as Infiltration Anesthesia, Peripheral Nerve Blocks, Sympathetic Nerve Blocks and Central Neural Blocks/Epidural. 

• Lidocaine Anesthetic is available under the following different brand names: Xylocaine, Zingo 

Adult and pediatric dosage

Injectable solution

• 0.4%
• 0.5%
• 0.8%
• 1%
• 1.5%
• 2%
• 4%
• 5%

Infiltration Anesthesia

Adult dosage

• Percutaneous: 1-60mL of 0.5-1% solution (5-300 mg total dose)
• IV regional: 10-60mL of 0.5% solution (50-300 mg total dose)

Pediatric dosage

• Percutaneous: 4-4.5 mg/kg maximum
• IV regional: 3 mg/kg

Peripheral Nerve Blocks

Adult dosage

• Brachial: 15-20 mL of 1.5% solution (225-300 mg total dose)
• Dental: 1-5 mL of 2% solution (20-100 mg total dose)
• Intercostal: 3 mL of 1% solution (30 mg total dose)
• Paravertebral: 3-5 mL of 1% solution (30-50 mg total dose)
• Pudendeal (each side): 10 mL of 1% solution (100 mg total dose)
• Paracervical obstetrical analgesia (each side): 10 mL of 1% solution (100 mg total dose)

Sympathetic Nerve Blocks

Adult dosage

• Cervical (stellate ganglion): 5 mL of 1% solution (50 mg total dose)
• Lumbar: 5-10 mL of 1% solution (50-100 mg total dose)

Central Neural Blocks/Epidural

Adult dosage

• General: 2-3 mL/dermatome for anesthesia
• Thoracic: 2-0-30 mL of 1% solution (200-300 mg total dose)
• Lumbar analgesia: 25-30 mL of 1% solution (250-300 mg total dose)
• Lumbar anesthesia: 15-20 mL of 1.5% solution (225-300 mg), or 10-15 mL of 2% solution (200-300 mg total dose)

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See "Dosages."

Common side effects of Lidocaine Anesthetic include:

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

Serious side effects of Lidocaine Anesthetic include:

• hives, 
• difficulty breathing, 
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, 
• twitching, 
• tremors, 
• seizure, 
• lightheadedness, 
• slow heart rate, 
• weak pulse, 
• weak or shallow breathing, 
• sudden feeling of heat, cold, or numbness, 
• muscle stiffness and pain, 
• blue appearance of the skin, 
• severe anxiety, and
• unusual fear or uneasy feeling

Rare side effects of Lidocaine Anesthetic include:

• none 

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems may occur as a result of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• Lidocaine Anesthetic has no noted severe interactions with other drugs. 
• Lidocaine Anesthetic has no noted serious interactions with other drugs. 
• Lidocaine Anesthetic has no noted moderate interactions with other drugs. 
• Lidocaine Anesthetic has no noted minor interactions with other drugs. 

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this drug, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to drug or amide type anesthetic

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Lidocaine Anesthetic?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Lidocaine Anesthetic?”

Cautions

• Some formulations may contain sulfites
• History of malignant hyperthermia
• DO NOT use solutions containing epinephrine in distal areas of body (e.g., digit, nose, ear) because of vasoconstrictive effects; addition of vasoconstrictor, epinephrine, will promote local hemostasis, decrease systemic absorption, and increase duration of action
• Significant systemic absorption reported when administered to mucosal surfaces and open wounds
• Chondrolysis associated with intra-articular infusions following arthroscopic and other surgical procedures (off-label use)
• Use with caution in hepatic impairment (ability to metabolize diminishes)

Pregnancy and Lactation

• May be acceptable during pregnancy. 
• Excreted in breast milk; use caution