By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Medical Information, Documents, News - TheMediTary.Com Logo Medical Information, Documents, News - TheMediTary.Com Logo

TheMediTary.Com

Medical Information, Documents, News - TheMediTary.Com

  • Home
  • News
  • Drugs
  • Drugs A-Z
  • Medical Answers
  • About Us
  • Contact
Medical Information, Documents, News - TheMediTary.Com Logo Medical Information, Documents, News - TheMediTary.Com Logo
Search Drugs
  • Drugs
    • Latest Drugs
    • Drugs A-Z
    • Medical Answers
  • News
    • FDA Alerts
    • Medical News
    • Health
    • Consumer Updates
    • Children's Health
  • More TheMediTary.Com
    • About Us
    • Contact
Follow US
Home > Drugs > Drugs > Lidocaine (systemic) (monograph) > Lidocaine: 7 things you should know
Drugs
https://themeditary.com/patient-tips/lidocaine-systemic-monograph-5102.html

Lidocaine: 7 things you should know

Drug Detail:Lidocaine (systemic) (monograph) (Medically reviewed)

Drug Class:

Contents
Uses Warnings Before Taking Dosage Side effects Interactions

1. How it works

  • Lidocaine may be used as a local anesthetic or in the treatment of arrhythmias.
  • Lidocaine works by blocking the influx of sodium ions into the membrane surrounding nerves. This prevents the initiation and conduction of impulses along the nerve, which results in an anesthetic effect.
  • Lidocaine belongs to the class of medicines known as class-1b antiarrhythmic drugs. It may also be called an anesthetic.

2. Upsides

  • Lidocaine prevents the transmission of pain impulses and is used as a local anesthetic to numb specific areas of the body before minor surgical, dental, or other procedures. The effect of lidocaine is almost immediate.
  • May be combined with epinephrine which increases the intensity and duration of the anesthetic effect and constricts the blood vessels, reducing bleeding.
  • Lidocaine may also be used to produce regional anesthesia (a loss of sensation in a specific region of the body; for example, an arm or a leg or the entire pelvic region).
  • Lidocaine antiarrhythmic may be used in the emergency treatment of cardiac arrest, ventricular arrhythmias, or other severe heart conditions.
  • Systemic lidocaine is administered IV. The IM formulation is no longer commercially available in the United States. Administer as an IV bolus for the initial treatment of ventricular arrhythmias.
  • No dosage adjustment is required in renal impairment.
  • May be given as a last resort to treat status epilepticus (lidocaine systemic).

3. Downsides

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include:

  • Skin redness, itching, a rash, or a feeling of warmth may occur in the region where lidocaine has been administered subcutaneously when used for local anesthesia. Bruising, bleeding, swelling, and pain at the injection site are less common.
  • When given to treat cardiac arrhythmias, terminate the infusion as soon as the basic cardiac rhythm appears stable or at the earliest sign of toxicity. Stop the infusion if prolongation of the PR interval and QRS complex appearance or aggravation of arrhythmias.
  • Side effects may be more severe with lidocaine antiarrhythmic and include lightheadedness, drowsiness, nausea or vomiting, slow heartbeat, and low blood pressure. Drowsiness is usually a reflection of high blood levels of lidocaine.
  • Local anesthetics injected into the head or neck area may produce side effects similar to systemic toxicity including confusion, convulsions, and respiratory depression.
  • IM lidocaine may increase creatine phosphokinase levels which may compromise tests for this enzyme following an acute myocardial infarction.
  • May not be suitable for some people including those with respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, liver or kidney disease, low blood pressure, epilepsy, myasthenia gravis, or congestive heart failure. Careful dosing is required in people with liver disease.
  • May interact with some medications including beta-blockers, cimetidine, antiarrhythmics, and HIV agents.
  • Constant ECG monitoring is recommended

Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. View complete list of side effects

4. Tips

  • Lidocaine will be administered to you by a health professional. Talk to them if you have any concerns.
  • Tell all your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all the medicines you use. Also, let them know if you have had recent surgery.
  • When used for local or regional anesthesia, a temporary loss of sensation and a restriction in the ability to move the affected body area may occur.

5. Response and effectiveness

  • When administered as a local or regional anesthetic, lidocaine is effective almost immediately. The duration of effect is approximately 60 to 90 minutes.
  • Higher dosages or volumes of lidocaine will result in a shorter time to the onset of anesthesia, a longer duration of effect, a greater degree of muscle relaxation, and an increase in the spread of the anesthesia.
  • The duration of action of lidocaine may be prolonged in people with liver disease.

6. Interactions

Medicines that interact with lidocaine may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works for, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with lidocaine. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed. Common medications that may interact with lidocaine include:

  • antiarrhythmics, such as dofetilide
  • anticonvulsants, such as phenytoin
  • antidepressants, such as fluvoxamine
  • antipsychotics, such as pimozide
  • cancer treatments, such as pomalidomide
  • cystic fibrosis medications, such as ivacaftor
  • Gaucher's disease treatments, such as eliglustat
  • HIV medications, such as fosamprenavir
  • lipid-lowering agents, such as lomitapide
  • antimalaria medications, such as mefloquine
  • other anesthetics (eg, bupivacaine)
  • tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as axitinib or bosutinib
  • vasopressor drugs (such as ephedrine or phenylephrine) or ergot-type oxytocic drugs (such as ergometrine) (the combination may cause severe and persistent high blood pressure (hypertension) which may increase the risk of stroke).

Lidocaine may also interact with grapefruit juice.

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with lidocaine. You should refer to the prescribing information for lidocaine for a complete list of interactions.

Share this Article
Latest News
Medical News

Shingles vaccine may lower heart disease risk by up to 8 years

May 09, 2025
Obesity, unhealthy lifestyles may cause heart to age by 5–45 years
Aging: As little as 5 minutes of exercise may keep the brain healthy
Prostate cancer: Simple urine test may help with early detection
Cancer treatment side effects: Exercise may reduce pain, fatigue
Alzheimer's: Exercising in middle age may reduce beta-amyloid in brain...
Related Drugs
Fidanacogene Elaparvovec
Cerave Anti-Itch
Centrum Adult
Crovalimab
Cyltezo Prefilled Syringe
Zepbound Pen
Mylanta One
Uretron Ds
Medihoney Wound And Burn Dressing
Lidotrode

Other drugs

Name Drug Class Updated
Fidanacogene Elaparvovec Drugs 03-Oct-2024
Cerave Anti-Itch Drugs 02-Oct-2024
Centrum Adult Drugs 02-Oct-2024
Crovalimab Drugs 02-Oct-2024
Cyltezo Prefilled Syringe Drugs 01-Oct-2024
Zepbound Pen Drugs 30-Sep-2024
Mylanta One Drugs 27-Sep-2024
Uretron Ds Drugs 27-Sep-2024
Medihoney Wound And Burn Dressing Drugs 26-Sep-2024
Lidotrode Drugs 26-Sep-2024
Libervant Drugs 26-Sep-2024
Moderna Covid-19 Drugs 25-Sep-2024
Beqvez Drugs 24-Sep-2024
Beqvez Drugs 24-Sep-2024
Beqvez Drugs 24-Sep-2024

Categories

  • FDA Alerts
  • Medical News
  • Health
  • Consumer Updates
  • Children's Health

About US

Welcome to TheMediTary.Com

Our website provides reliable and up-to-date information on various medical topics. We empower individuals to take charge of their health by simplifying complex medical jargon and providing practical tips and advice. We prioritize the privacy and confidentiality of our users and welcome feedback to improve our services.

Website use data of FDA and other sources

DMCA.com Protection Status Truste Protection Status Trust Mark Protection Status
HONcode logo We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information.
Quick Link
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Sitemap
  • Care Notes
  • Health Guide
  • Professional
Drugs
  • New Drugs
  • Medical Answers
  • Drugs A-Z
  • Drug Classes
  • Drug Dosage
  • Pill Identifier
  • Consumer Infor
  • Side Effects
  • Inactive Ingredients
  • Pregnancy Warnings
  • Patient Tips
  • Treatments
News
  • Latest News
  • FDA Alerts
  • Medical News
  • Health
  • Consumer Updates
  • Children's Health
Find US
  • Medium
  • Google Site
  • Blogspot
  • API
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • Scoop.it
  • Substack
  • Wordpress
  • Wix
  • Behance

© 2025 TheMediTary.Com All rights reserved. Operated by