Lidocaine Prilocaine Uses

Lidocaine prilocaine topical cream is a topical anesthetic that is used to provide numbness and dermal analgesia (pain relief in the skin) before minor procedures such as a blood draw or intravenous catheter placement. Additionally, this combination of local anesthetics is used before surgical procedures on the genital mucous membranes (male and female external genitalia). It can also be used for analgesia before a minor medical procedure such as wart removal, skin biopsy, tattoo placement, or laser treatment of a birthmark. Lidocaine prilocaine is also used for pre-treatment before local infiltration anesthesia (local anesthesia administered by injection).

Note that lidocaine prilocaine is for external use only. This combination of local anesthetics should only be used on unbroken skin and not on inflamed skin or open wounds.

There may be other uses of lidocaine prilocaine—your health system pharmacists or doctors can give you further drug information.

Lidocaine Prilocaine Mechanism of Action

Lidocaine and prilocaine provide local anesthesia by blocking signals from nerve endings in the skin.

Lidocaine Prilocaine Doses

This medication comes in the form of a topical cream containing 2.5% lidocaine and 2.5% prilocaine. A thick layer is applied on a narrow strip of the skin area where complete sensation loss and pain control is required. An occlusive dressing is placed on top. The medication is left in place for 1-2 hours before the treatment that involves needle insertion.