lidocaine
Lidocaine viscous 2% (also known as viscous lidocaine) is commonly used to numb red, swollen, and painful sores in the mouth and throat. It's available by prescription only. The typical dose for adults is to swish and spit (or swallow) 15 mL of lidocaine viscous 2% every 3 hours, as needed. While lidocaine viscous 2% works well, using this medication more often or at higher doses than recommended can cause serious side effects, such as heart rhythm problems, trouble breathing, and coma.
What is Lidocaine viscous 2%?
What is Lidocaine viscous 2% used for?
- Numb the red, swollen, and irritated areas in the mouth and throat
- Prevention of gagging during dental procedures
How Lidocaine viscous 2% works
Lidocaine viscous 2% eases pain by numbing the nerves and making them less sensitive to pain. It's a local anesthetic, meaning it only lowers pain in the area of skin closely around or directly in contact with the medication.
Drug facts
Side effects of Lidocaine viscous 2%
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Feeling sleepy and tired
- Ringing in the ears
- Blurry or double vision
- Vomiting
- Feeling hot, cold, or numb
- Twitching, shaking
- Seizures
- Coma
- Trouble breathing
- Slow heart rate
- Low blood pressure
Less Common Side Effects
- Nervousness
- Overwhelming feeling of happiness and joy
- Feeling confused
Lidocaine viscous 2% serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Blood problems (methemoglobinemia): Seizures, loss of consciousness, fast heart beat, trouble breathing, feeling dizzy or faint, feeling tired, skin color turning blue
- Too much lidocaine in your body: Drowsiness, confusion, slow heart beat, trouble breathing, difficulty controlling muscle movements
- Serious allergic reactions: Swelling of the face, difficulty breathing, trouble speaking, throat tightening up, red and itchy rash, lightheadedness, clammy skin
The following Lidocaine viscous 2% side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Blurred vision or other changes in vision
burning feeling at site of application
redness of the white part of eyes or inside of eyelids
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Headache
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Lidocaine viscous 2%
Pros
- Can be used as needed
- Available as a lower-cost generic
Cons
- Not recommended for teething pain in young children
- Need to wait 1 hour after rinsing or gargling with the medication before you eat
- Need a measuring spoon, medicine cup, or oral syringe to measure out exact dose, so might be inconvenient to use
Pharmacist tips for Lidocaine viscous 2%
- Shake the bottle before you pour and measure out the medication. This makes sure the lidocaine is evenly mixed into the thick liquid.
- Use a measuring spoon, medicine cup, or an oral syringe to measure out your dose of lidocaine viscous 2%. These can be found at your local pharmacy or retail store. Don't measure your medication with a kitchen or plastic spoon because the dose might not be accurate.
- If you're hungry, it's best to eat before using lidocaine viscous 2%. Otherwise, it's recommended that you wait at least 1 hour to eat food after using this medication. This medication can affect your ability to swallow food and eating too soon after using it might cause you to choke.
- It's recommended that you wait to eat food or chew gum while your mouth is still numb from lidocaine viscous 2%. If you don't wait, you might accidentally bite your tongue or mouth and injure yourself.
- Store lidocaine viscous 2% out of reach of children to prevent them from accidentally exposing themselves to this medication. Make sure the lid is closed tightly. Throw away leftover or unused medication in a safe location. This medication can cause life-threatening side effects in young children, such as seizures or your heart suddenly stopping. If you think your child might've swallowed lidocaine viscous 2%, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Common questions about Lidocaine viscous 2%
Lidocaine viscous 2% is only meant to give short-term pain relief for mouth or throat pain. For adults, each dose (15 mL of lidocaine viscous 2%) can provide pain relief for at least 3 hours. Don't take more than one dose every 3 hours, and don't take more than 8 doses in 24 hours. Using lidocaine viscous 2% more often or at a higher dose than recommended can cause your body to absorb too much medication and lead to rare, but serious side effects, such as seizures, trouble breathing, and low blood pressure.
No, lidocaine viscous 2% isn't a narcotic; it's a local anesthetic. While both narcotic medications and lidocaine viscous 2% can bring pain relief, they work in very different ways. Narcotic medications eases pain by affecting certain receptors in your brain to block pain. But lidocaine viscous 2% works by making the skin less sensitive to pain. Narcotic medications are known to carry a risk for addiction, while lidocaine viscous 2% doesn't.
No, lidocaine viscous 2% is only available with a prescription from your provider. But there are other lidocaine products that are available over the counter, such as lidocaine (Lidoderm) 4% patches.
You can swallow lidocaine viscous 2% only if you're using it to ease redness, swelling, and skin irritations in your throat. Don't swallow more than directed by your provider. Doing so can put you at higher risk of serious side effects, such as seizures, trouble breathing, low blood pressure, slow heart rate, and your heart suddenly stopping. Get medical help right away if you experience these symptoms.
Ask your provider if it's ok for you to mix lidocaine viscous 2% with water to gargle. The typical adult dose is 15 mL of lidocaine viscous 2% gargled (or swallowed), undiluted (not mixed with water). But depending on your condition, your provider might recommend that you mix lidocaine viscous 2% with other ingredients. For example, your provider might prescribe lidocaine viscous 2% as one of the ingredients in a "magic mouthwash" mixture to ease mouth sores.
You should wait at least 1 hour to eat after you use lidocaine viscous 2%. This medication can numb your mouth and also cause the muscles in your throat to not work as well, which might cause you to choke. Also, wait until after your mouth is no longer numb to chew your food or gum. This will prevent you from biting and injuring your cheeks and tongue.
If you're pregnant, talk with your provider before using lidocaine viscous 2%. This medication hasn't been well-studied in human pregnancy, but animal studies suggest it might not cause harm. If you have mouth or throat pain during pregnancy, ask your provider whether lidocaine viscous 2% is a good option for you.
No, lidocaine viscous 2% isn't approved for teething pain in babies. Giving it to young children can cause serious side effects that might lead to death, such as seizures, heart problems, and brain injuries. If your baby has teething pain, you can gently rub your baby's gums with your finger to soothe the pain. You can also give your baby a firm, rubber teething ring that has been chilled (not frozen) in the fridge. Ask your baby's healthcare provider what else you can do to ease their teething pain.
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Risks and warnings for Lidocaine viscous 2%
Lidocaine viscous 2% can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Seizures, heart and lungs problems, and death in babies and young children
- Risk factors: Age under 3 years old | Using more lidocaine viscous 2% than recommended | Using lidocaine viscous 2% more often than recommended
Lidocaine viscous 2% can cause very serious and sometimes deadly side effects, such as seizures and cardiopulmonary arrest (a condition where the heart and lungs suddenly stop working), in children under 3 years old. This is more likely to happen if a child takes the medication more often or at a higher dose than prescribed. This medication isn't recommended for children under 3 years old, unless safer medications aren't available or haven't worked. It's also not recommended for teething pain. Talk to a healthcare provider to see if this medication is appropriate for your child or loved one. Store lidocaine viscous 2% out of reach of children to prevent them from accidentally using this medication. Make sure the lid is closed tightly. Throw away leftover or unused medication in a safe location. Call 911 and get medical help right away if your child or loved one has a seizure, becomes unconscious, stops breathing, or no longer has a heartbeat or pulse.
Using too much medication
- Risk factors: Using lidocaine viscous 2% more often or at a higher dose than recommended
Use lidocaine viscous 2% only as directed by your healthcare provider. Using it more often or at a higher dose than recommended can cause this medication to build up in your body. Too much lidocaine can lead to serious side effects, such as seizures, trouble breathing, low blood pressure, slow heart rate, and your heart suddenly stopping. Get medical help right away if you experience these symptoms.
Blood problem (methemoglobinemia)
- Risk factors: History of methemoglobinemia | History of low glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) | Heart or lung problems | Age 6 months or younger | Exposure to other oxidizing agents, such as chlorine and hydrogen peroxide
Lidocaine viscous 2% can cause methemoglobinemia, a serious blood problem where your red blood cells cannot bring enough oxygen to your body. Your risk is higher if you have low G6PD, a condition passed down from parent to child, where your red blood cells tend to burst or break apart. Be careful using lidocaine viscous 2% if you're around oxidizing chemicals, such as chlorine and hydrogen peroxide. These chemicals might be present in common household products like cleaning supplies and hair dye. Methemoglobinemia can occur immediately or within hours of using lidocaine viscous 2%. Earliest signs include headache, tiredness, and your skin turning blue. Get medical help right away to avoid more serious and life-threatening side effects like seizures, loss of consciousness, and heart rhythm problems (fast heart beat, dizziness, shortness of breath).
Lidocaine viscous 2% dosage
Bottle of topical solution| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50ml of 4% | 1 bottle | $20.89 | $20.89 |
| 100ml of 2% | 1 bottle | $19.03 | $19.03 |
Typical dosage for Lidocaine viscous 2%
Redness, swelling, and skin irritation inside the mouth and throat
- Adults: For the mouth, the typical dose is 15 mL swished around the mouth and then spit out no more than every 3 hours. For the throat, the typical dose is 15 mL gargled and then swallowed or spit out no more than every 3 hours. Don't use more than 8 doses in 24 hours.
- Children over 3 years old: Dosing for children will depend on the child’s weight or age. Please check with your child's provider for the recommended dose.
- Children 3 years old and under: Dosing for children will depend on the child’s weight or age. Please check with your child's provider for the recommended dose. Apply the recommended dose to the affected area with a cotton swab. Wait at least 3 hours before giving the next dose. Don't give more than 4 doses in 12 hours.
Prevention of gagging during dental procedures
- The specific dosing and directions will be provided by your dentist.
Children, older adults, and people who are very sick and weak might need to use a lower dose.
Interactions between Lidocaine viscous 2% and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Dihydroergotamine
- Dronedarone
- Saquinavir
- Vernakalant
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Amifampridine
- Amiodarone
- Amprenavir
- Arbutamine
- Atazanavir
- Bupivacaine Liposome
- Bupropion
- Cobicistat
- Dasabuvir
- Delavirdine
- Disopyramide
- Donepezil
- Encainide
- Etravirine
- Flecainide
- Fosamprenavir
- Fosphenytoin
- Hyaluronidase
- Lopinavir
- Metoprolol
- Mexiletine
- Moricizine
- Nadolol
- Phenytoin
- Procainamide
- Propafenone
- Quinidine
- Sotalol
- Succinylcholine
- Telaprevir
- Tocainide
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
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