Does lidocaine have side effects?

Similar to Benzocaine, Lidocaine is another topical anesthetic, which is used to relive the pain of shingles infections. Lidocaine is called an amide anesthetic, because it is not an ester. Benzocaine is an ester, a compound made from the organic acid PABA and the alcohol ethanol. A small change to Lidocaine makes the molecule denatonium benzoate, the bitterest tasting substance known. Lidocaine is used to denature alcohol.

• Does Lidocaine have side effects?

• What is the difference between Lidocaine and Benzocaine?

• What is the dosage of Lidocaine?

1. Does Lidocaine have side effects?

Lidocaine used in intravenous can act on the central nervous system, causing drowsiness, paresthesia, muscle tremors, convulsions, coma, and respiratory depression.

The overall incidence of Lidocaine is about 6.3% that most adverse reactions are dose-related.

Nerves: Optic neuritis, dizziness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, slurred speech, paresthesias and muscle tremors, convulsions, confusion and respiratory depression. We should reduce the amount of Lidocaine or even stop it.

Cardiovascular: Large doses of Lidocaine can produce severe sinus bradycardia, cardiac arrest, ventricular fibrillation, severe atrioventricular block and reduction of myocardial contractility. Lidocaine needs to be stopped in time, with atropine and isoproterenol if necessary. Give oxygen inhalation when blood pressure drops, correct acidosis and booster drugs; maintain airway patency and other resuscitation measures;

Allergic reactions: Lidocaine should be discontinued if there are symptoms such as skin rash and edema. High concentration of Lidocaine in blood can cause cardiovascular depression and respiratory arrest. The occurrence of these adverse reactions is completely related to the mistaken entry into the blood vessel.

• Lidocaine can cause allergies, such as skin rash, flushing, hives, etc.

• Lidocaine can result in respiratory depression.

• Lidocaine can cause low blood pressure or bradycardia.

• Lidocaine will inhibit myocardial contractility and decrease in cardiac output

• Lidocaine will slow atrial transmission down with atrioventricular transmission being blocked.

2. What is the difference between Lidocaine and Benzocaine?

Lidocaine and Benzocaine are important local anesthetics. The key difference between Lidocaine and Benzocaine is that Lidocaine is used commonly as a regional anesthetic, whereas Benzocaine is often used as a topical anesthetic. The chemical formula for Lidocaine is C₁₄H₂₂N₂O while the chemical formula for Benzocaine is C₉H₁₁NO₂. The molar mass of Lidocaine is 234.34g per molar, while the molar mass of Benzocaine is 165.19g per molar.

When considering the adverse effects, adverse effects are very rare in Lidocaine while in Benzocaine. There can be severe effects if we use products containing high concentrations of Benzocaine on skin. This is also a noteworthy difference between Lidocaine and Benzocaine.

Lidocaine is commonly used as a viscous solution, while Benzocaine is commonly used as a gel.

In regards to effectiveness, Lidocaine is a stronger anesthetic than Benzocaine. According to FDA regulation, Benzocaine products can only have a concentration level between 3 to 7.5%. For Lidocaine products, they need to be sold in an 11mg dose-metered bottle. There is a limit of 10 sprays of Lidocaine at each use, however, for Benzocaine there isn’t a limit on the maximum use. As there is no limit on how much Benzocaine can be applied, its effectiveness depends on the amount of product used.

3. What is the dosage of Lidocaine?

Common dosage of Lidocaine for adults:

Intramuscular Lidocaine injection. It can be according to body weight 4.3mg/kg and repeated after 60-90 minutes.

Intravenous Lidocaine injection. It can be according to body weight 1mg/kg as the first intravenous injection 2 to 3 minutes. If necessary, repeat the injection 1 to 2 times after every 5 minutes. The maximum amount of Lidocaine within one hour does not exceed 300mg. 

Intravenous Lidocaine infusion. After using the load, it can continue to be maintained by intravenous Lidocaine infusion at a rate of 1 to 4 mg per minute. Or infuse Lidocaine every minute at a rate of 0.015 to 0.03mg per kilogram of body weight.

For the elderly people, or those have heart failure, cardiogenic shock, decreased hepatic blood flow, and liver or kidney dysfunction, the amount of Lidocaine should reduce the dosage to 0.5 to 1mg per minute intravenously.

Maximum amount of Lidocaine: for intramuscular or intravenous Lidocaine injection, the maximum load within 1 hour is 4.5mg per kilograms or 300mg of body weight. The maximum maintenance of Lidocaine amount is 4mg per minute.

Learn more something about Lidocaine can know the side effects of Lidocaine and the differences between Benzocaine and Lidocaine and Phenacetin. If you want to buy compound preparations made from Lidocaine, Wuhan Mulei New Material Technology CO., LTD. can help you to open up a further and larger market, it is wise to choose us as your business partner. Our company has many close relationships with different hospitals by providing various kinds of compound drugs synthesized by Lidocaine.