Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 8, 2022.
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Akten
Available Dosage Forms:
- Gel/Jelly
Therapeutic Class: Anesthetic, Local
Chemical Class: Amino Amide
Uses for lidocaine
Lidocaine belongs to the family of medicines called local anesthetics. Lidocaine is applied in the eye to cause numbness or loss of feeling before certain procedures. It works by blocking the signals at the nerve endings in the eye.
Lidocaine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Before using lidocaine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For lidocaine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to lidocaine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of lidocaine ophthalmic gel have not been performed in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of lidocaine ophthalmic gel in the elderly.
Interactions with medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving lidocaine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using lidocaine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or ch...
