Lignocaine is a local anesthetic and anti-arrhythmic agent that belongs to the class of medications called amino amide. The FDA approved the medication for its medical use on March 19, 1999.

Lignocaine Cream Uses:

It is used to produce local anesthesia (numb a specific area) and stop pain being felt in the area of the body where it is locally administered. It temporarily numbs the surface of the skin. It may also be used to numb the skin before administration of painful topical treatments on larger surface areas of intact skin.  

Lignocaine Injection Uses:

It is used to produce local anesthesia (numb a specific area) and stop pain being felt in the area of the body where it is locally administered. It is also an anti-arrhythmic agent used to control fast or abnormal heartbeats you might experience after a heart attack. Common side effects of lignocaine are edema, erythema, skin rashes, and headache. 

Your nurse or doctor will give you the injection. Your doctor will decide the dose and duration of the injection based on your condition. Do not self-administer the medicine. If you are prescribed cream or gel, your nurse or doctor will tell you when to apply the medicine. Usually, it is applied 30 to 60 minutes before the procedure starts. Your doctor will recommend the quantity to apply based on your condition. Do not apply more quantity than needed. Apply the cream in a uniform layer to the skin. Do not remove the cream before the procedure.

The common side effects of lignocaine injection are swelling in the face and feet, skin rashes, headache, and a burning sensation in eye. Common side effects of lignocaine cream are skin irritation, redness, itching, dryness, and skin rash. Serious side effects include severe skin reactions and blood disorders.

Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to lignocaine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine. Do not take this medicine if you have an allergic reaction to any local anesthetic medicines. Do not take this medicine if you have  certain heart disorders. Tell your doctor if you have any heart problems particularly where your heart may pump blood less efficiently, may beat irregularly, or may beat more slowly and if you suffer from a state of decreased blood volume and blood disorders.

Before initiating the treatment, inform your doctor if you have heart disease, blood disorders, or kidney or liver diseases. Talk to your doctor before using this medicine if you suffer from a breathing disorder, epilepsy, active inflammation, or infection. This medicine must not be used in the eye. Contact your physician immediately if you begin to experience lightheadedness, numbness of your tongue, or a ringing in your ears after receiving this medicine. 

Lignocaine can cause mild skin irritation, so do not use this medicine on open wounds or large areas of broken or damaged skin or burned skin without consulting the doctor. This medicine is only for topical use. Do not use this medicine in your eyes; if the cream gets into your eyes accidentally, rinse it well with lukewarm water and seek medical advice.

Store the lignocaine below 25°C. Use the cream within 6 months of opening. Do not freeze the injection. Protect the medicine from light and excessive moisture. Keep the medicine out of reach of children and pets. Do not apply to raw or blistered skin, in the ear, inside the nose, in the mouth, to the anus (back passage), where there is a skin rash or eczema, or where there are cuts, grazes, or wounds. An overdose may include using more than the recommended amount, applying the cream to large areas, or using the cream for longer than recommended. 

The following overdose symptoms may be experienced such as blurred vision, dizziness or drowsiness, difficulty breathing, trembling, chest pain, or an irregular heartbeat. Inform your physician immediately if you face any of these symptoms.  Tell your doctor if you are using any other medications, including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins or nutritional supplements, and herbal products. Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

1. Lidocaine 4% w/vw- Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). www.medicines.org.uk. [revised February 2022] [cited 2023 Jun 8]. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.5938.pdf
2. Mercury Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) Ltd, [Revised on Apr 2016] [Accessed on June 8 2023], https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/019941s021lbl.pdf
3. Kenneth Drasner, Local Anesthetics, Lange’s Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 14th Edition, 2018, 459-473.
4. KD Tripathi, Local Anaesthetics, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, 8th Edition, 2019, 386-398.
5. Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection BP 2% w/v - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). www.medicines.org.uk. [revised February 2022] [cited 2023 Jun 8]. Available from: http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6281/smpc
6. Mercury Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) Ltd, [Revised on Apr 2016] [Accessed on June 8 2023],https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/006488s074lbl.pdf 

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you can receive this treatment.