Lidocaine: Uses, Side Effects, and Safety Precautions

Lidocaine is a local anesthetic drug and reduces the feeling of pain and discomfort by blocking the communication of nerves in the body. First discovered in the 1940s, this drug is used to treat a wide range of medical conditions. In this article, we'll cover what lidocaine is, how it's used, when it's effective, and its side effects.

Use of Lidocaine

Lidocaine is a drug used mainly as a local anesthetic. It comes in different forms due to its versatility. Lidocaine is available in the form of creams, gels, sprays, ointments, injections, and skin patches.

As a local anesthetic, lidocaine is used to numb the upper layers of the skin and reduce the sensation of pain. It is used in various surgical procedures, dental procedures, sutures of wounds and in the treatment of burns.

Lidocaine is also used to regulate heart rate and treat heart rhythm disorders. It is also used to treat certain nervous system disorders.

Effect of Lidocaine

Lidocaine reduces pain by inhibiting the interaction of nerves. The drug blocks nerve impulses in the area where it is applied so that the nerves do not send pain signals to the brain. This reduces pain and provides relief.

Lidocaine is one of the most common drugs used during the administration of local anesthesia. This is a procedure performed to reduce pain and increase patient comfort. Lidocaine does not cause the patient to sleep during anesthesia, it only reduces pain.

Lidocaine is also used in the treatment of heart rhythm disorders. The drug regulates the heart rate by changing the electrical activity of the heart. This helps control heart rhythm disorders and lower the heart rate to a normal level.

Side Effects of Lidocaine

Lidocaine rarely causes serious side effects. However, some people may develop allergic reactions to the drug. Also, lidocaine can cause different side effects in different parts of the body. The most common side effects are symptoms such as mild burning, itching and swelling at the application site. These side effects are usually mild and go away in a short time.

Lidocaine can cause serious side effects when used excessively or in high doses. These side effects can include heart rhythm disturbance, fainting, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, convulsions, and even death. Therefore, lidocaine should only be prescribed and used by a doctor or specialist.

Usage Areas of Lidocaine

Lidocaine is used to treat a variety of medical conditions. These include:

Surgical procedures: Lidocaine is used to reduce pain during surgical procedures. This procedure is performed during anesthesia and does not cause the patient to fall asleep.
Dentistry: Lidocaine is used during tooth extraction, filling, root canal treatment and other dental procedures. This is done to reduce pain and provide relief to the patient.
Burns: Lidocaine is used to treat burns. The drug reduces pain in the burned area and provides relief.
Neuropathic pain: Lidocaine is used to reduce pain caused by disorders of the nervous system. This is effective for conditions such as back pain, nerve damage, and other neuropathic pains.
Heart rhythm disorders: Lidocaine is used in the treatment of heart rhythm disorders. The drug regulates the heart rate, bringing it to a normal level.

In some cases, this drug is mixed with trigoxin. But these two are completely different things.

Source:

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"Lidocaine Injection", RxList,
"Lidocaine Topical", Medscape,
"Lidocaine in Dental Procedures", Dental Fear Central,
"Lidocaine for Neuropathic Pain", Neuropathic Pain Network,
"Trigoxin", Medicineclue