Lidocaine 2.5% and Prilocaine 2.5%, Topical

What are other names for this medicine?

Generic and brand names: lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5%, topical; Emlar Cream; Emlar Discs

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine numbs your skin and is used on unbroken skin to relieve pain, itching or irritation. It may be used for minor surgery. Do not use it in the mouth, nose, or eyes.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your health care provider if you ever had a reaction to a local anesthetic. If you develop an allergic reaction to this medicine (hives, itching, rash, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing), stop using it and contact your health care provider right away.

Tell your health care provider if you have liver disease.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

How do I use it?

This medicine is available as a cream called Emlar with Tegaderm Dressings (tight bandages) and as adhesive discs (Emlar Discs). Both are applied to skin that is not broken, damaged, or irritated.

Follow the instructions that come in the medicine package. Use the medicine as directed by your health care provider. Do not use more or more often than prescribed. Using the cream too much or too often may cause side effects.

What should I watch out for?

Keep this medicine out of your mouth, nose and eyes. It can irritate or injure your eyes. If you get this medicine in your eye, do not rub your eyes. Flush them with plenty of cool water.

This medicine should be used with caution with people who are very ill or elderly, or with infants less than 3 months old.

Since this medicine stops all feeling on your skin, be careful not to injure your skin by scratching, rubbing, or exposing it to extreme hot or cold temperatures.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider or get emergency medical care right away): Allergic reaction (hives, itching, rash, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing).

Other: Minor skin irritation; swelling, lightheadedness, dizziness, ringing in the ears, nervousness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• lidocaine (Xylocaine, LidoPen)
• mexiletine (Mexitil)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• procainamide (Pronestyl)
• tocainide hydrochloride (Tonocard).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.