Price
Xylocaine is not patent-protected and therefore also available as a generic drug. The price depends on the dosage form and the manufacturer.
Can xylocaine be bought over the counter?
Xylocaine, like all local anesthetics, is generally available only on prescription due to possible serious side effects. However, there are exceptions to this rule, e.g. xylocaine containing drugs for use on the skin and mucous membranes are available without a prescription as long as they are not intended for use on the eye, the external auditory canal or for the treatment of pain after a herpes zoster infection. Xylocaine with concentrations of up to 2% for the placement of wheals as part of neural therapy is also exempt from prescription and xylocaine for injection in perineal sections and perineal tears may be given to midwives and maternity nurses.
Alternatives to Xylocaine
As an alternative to xylocaine, one of the many other local anesthetics can be used for local anesthesia. These differ, for example, in the time of onset, the duration of action and the ability to penetrate different tissues. In the case of allergies to xylocaine, it should be borne in mind that it is a local anaesthetic of the amide type.
An alternative would therefore be to use a local anaesthetic of the ester type such as procaine. However, these have a higher allergenic potential than xylocaine. Furthermore, allergic reactions to xylocaine are usually based on additional substances in the drugs.
A basic alternative to the use of local anaesthetics is of course general anaesthesia, although this should be used very cautiously due to the risks involved in minor procedures. There are various alternatives as a medication for cardiac arrhythmia. Depending on the rhythm disturbances, drugs such as ajmalin, amiodarone or propafenone can be used. Another alternative is electrical antiarrhythmic therapy with an implantable pacemaker/defibrillator.
