lidocaine hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Amide local anaesthetic and class Ib antiarrhythmic.
Main uses
Local or regional anaesthesia and emergency treatment of severe ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
Administration
Given by an appropriately trained healthcare professional using an injection route suited to the procedure or indication.
After local anaesthesia
Protect the numb area from injury. Do not drive or use machinery if normal function is affected.
What is lidocaine hydrochloride used for?
The selected injection is licensed for:
Local and regional anaesthesia in adults, adolescents and children over two years; evidence is limited in younger children.
Emergency treatment of severe symptomatic ventricular tachycardia or tachyarrhythmia assessed as life-threatening.
How does lidocaine hydrochloride work?
Lidocaine blocks voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve or heart cells. This temporarily prevents pain signals travelling along nearby nerves and can suppress abnormal electrical impulses in ventricular heart tissue.
lidocaine hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 0.5% w/v, 1.0% w/v, 1% w/v, 2.0% w/v, 2% w/v
How to take lidocaine hydrochloride
This injection is administered by a suitably trained healthcare professional. The route depends on whether it is used for anaesthesia or a ventricular rhythm emergency.
Tell the clinician about local-anaesthetic allergies and any heart, liver, kidney, breathing, neurological or muscle disorders.
Tell staff promptly about ringing in the ears, blurred vision, unusual mouth or tongue sensations, dizziness, twitching or marked drowsiness.
Move carefully and protect the treated area until sensation and function return.
Follow the treating service's food instructions for the planned procedure.
lidocaine hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Temporary neurological symptoms after spinal or epidural anaesthesia.
- With antiarrhythmic administration: dizziness, drowsiness, tingling, tinnitus, blurred vision, confusion or restlessness.
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction with hives, swelling, breathing difficulty or collapse.
- Muscle twitching, seizures, profound drowsiness, loss of consciousness or respiratory depression.
- Slow heartbeat, conduction block, severe low blood pressure, ventricular arrhythmia or cardiac arrest.
- Persistent weakness, altered sensation, or bladder or bowel disturbance after spinal or epidural administration.
lidocaine hydrochloride in pregnancy
The selected injection crosses the placenta, and pregnancy data are limited. It should be used only when clinically necessary, with the technique and exposure individually assessed. Some regional techniques require particular caution because fetal or newborn effects can occur.
lidocaine hydrochloride while breastfeeding
Lidocaine and its metabolites enter breast milk in small amounts, but effects on breastfed infants are not anticipated after therapeutic use of the selected injection. Tell the clinician if the baby was premature or is unwell.
lidocaine hydrochloride interactions
Clinicians should review all medicines because systemic exposure and cardiac or neurological effects can be altered.
Other local anaesthetics
Cardiovascular and central nervous system effects can be additive.
Class I antiarrhythmics
Combined use should generally be avoided because serious cardiac adverse effects may occur.
Beta blockers or calcium-channel blockers
Cardiac conduction and contractility may be further suppressed; some beta blockers can also reduce lidocaine clearance.
Common questions about lidocaine hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is lidocaine hydrochloride injection used for?
It produces local or regional anaesthesia and, in monitored emergency care, treats certain life-threatening ventricular heart rhythms.
Can I drive after local anaesthesia?
Do not drive if numbness, weakness or impaired function could affect safe control. Follow the clinician's advice and wait until normal function returns.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.