Effect of Lidocaine Cream
The effect of lidocaine is based on blocking the transmission of the pain stimulus. Sodium channels are needed to transmit a pain stimulus. These channels lead the pain from the point of origin (for example, the hand after cutting the finger) along nerve tracts to the spinal cord and then to the brain.
Once in the brain, the stimulus is processed and the body can react accordingly, e.g. with a defensive movement. Lidocaine causes a targeted blockage of these sodium channels, which makes it impossible to transmit the pain stimulus, resulting in a short-term anesthetic of the treated area. The blockade of the sodium channels by Lidoacaine is not irreversible, which is why the inhibition of the stimulus transmission decreases after a certain time and pain is increasingly felt again.
Lidocaine cream can be purchased as Xylocaine 5% ointment. In the composition of 1g of ointment 50 mg of lidocaine is added. The cream should be used for temporary anaesthesia of the skin and mucous membrane areas with fast onset of action of approx.
30 seconds after application and a duration of action of approx. 5 minutes.The ointment is available without prescription in pharmacies. Lidocaine in 10% composition is available among others as Xylocaine Pumpspray 10%.
Here 100mg spray contains approx. 10 mg lidocaine. The spray is to be used for adults and children from the age of 3 years. Common areas of application are ear, nose and throat medicine, especially for infections and pain in the mouth and throat area, dentistry, cleaning and pain relief for abrasions, superficial anesthesia of light burns.
Side effects
Like all drugs, the use of lidocaine cream can also cause side effects, although these are usually rather rare. The most common side effects include allergic reaction, ranging from redness, hives and swelling of the skin, to respiratory cramps, respiratory syndrome and anaphylactic shock. When using lidocaine spray or cream in the mouth and throat area, temporary swelling of the throat and larynx may occur with accompanying hoarseness. In contrast to the systemic application of lidocaine, i.e. the administration by infusion, the local therapy with cream and spray does not usually cause serious side effects on the cardiovascular system.
