Different Uses of Lidocaine

Lidocaine is a local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic drug. It is available in many forms: gel, cream, fluid injection, spray, solution, and as a patch. As a topical anesthetic, Lidocaine may be used directly on your skin to help relieve itching, burning, and skin inflammation pain. If you're having a tooth pulled, or need some minor surgery, your dentist or doctor may use Lidocaine to numb your tissues before a procedure.

Here are some other ways that you may find Lidocaine useful:

Easing The Squeeze of a Mammogram







Women who delay, or skip having an annual mammogram from age 40, may find some relief from the pain of compression, if they apply a 5% Lidocaine cream to their breast and on surrounding chest skin. A study done at St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise, Idaho took 418 women who had delayed mammograms because of anticipated pain, and gave them several premedications. The women were split up into groups that took acetaminophen, ibuprofen, a topical 5% Lidocaine gel, or an oral or topical placebo. Women who had the Lidocaine treatment reported significantly less pain than they had anticipated, and agreed that the experience led them to consider sticking to a regular annual mammogram. The Lidocaine cream was applied to the skin for 30 – 60 minutes before each mammogram, and was removed just before imaging. You can purchase Lidocaine cream in a 5%. If you do use any cream or gel on your breast skin before a mammogram, it must be thoroughly removed just before imaging, because it may cause your breast to slide, and give fuzzy or inaccurate results.


Taking The Sting Out of The Needle



As a chemotherapy patient, I got stuck with needles several times a week, since I took low-dose weekly treatments. There were needles for blood draws, needles for injections of Procrit and Neupogen, and needles for chemo infusions. I could bear the temporary sting of the blood needle and the quick jab of the syringe, but was uncomfortable with the chemo needle, particularly since it stayed in place for so long. My infusion nurse gave me a sample bottle of Lidocaine cream, and told me to apply it to my port site 30 to 45 minutes before coming in for an infusion. I used a pea-sized dose of gel on my port bump, and covered it with an occlusive bandage, to keep it away from air and clothing. Once at the clinic, the nurse removed the bandage, cleaned off the remaining gel, and proceeded to give me a painless needle stick. I faithfully applied the gel before all of the rest of my infusions!


Cooling the Bum Burn





Chemotherapy can cause many side effects, one of which may be constipation. The chemo drugs and some anti-nausea medications can slow peristalsis, or muscle contractions that move solids and fluids through your digestive tract. The longer your food remains in your digestive tract, the drier it becomes. Eventually, your stool can become dry and rather stiff, moving slowly on its way through your intestines. If you are also suffering from mucositis, all of your digestive tissues may be tender and painful. Slow bowel movements and a tender rectum can lead to pain and possibly hemorrhoids. When I complained of these to my family physician, he prescribed Lidocaine cream applied to the tip of a suppository (Preparation H or Calmol 4) to numb the pain and provide lubrication. As long as I used these about 30 minutes before a bowel movement, I was much more comfortable. Lidocaine cream may also be used on the skin around the anus to ease pain, if needed.

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