What Viscous Lidocaine is used for: Side effects & Precautions?

Why is Viscous lidocaine medication prescribed?

Viscous lidocaine is used to relieve the pain of a sore, discomfort from a sore throat/mouth, cancer chemotherapy, and in certain medical procedures. Due to cold, flu, or infections, it is not normally used for sore throats. Before certain medical and dental procedures, viscous lidocaine is also used to numb the lining of the mouth and throat. It is a class of drugs known as local anesthetics.

Special warnings of taking Viscous lidocaine

Don’t ever try to use this medication on someone younger than 3 years because it causes serious or some fatal side effects, including seizure, death in infants and slowed/stopped heart. If you are using this medication at younger than 3 years then very carefully follow the health care professional’s directions and use this medication exactly as directed by your health care professionals. If anything that you don’t understand, ask your health care professionals to explain. Don’t try to use this medication more or less often than prescribed by your health care professionals.

If you are using viscous lidocaine to treat teething pain in infants and young children then don’t use it unless directed by health care professionals. Try to contact first with the health care professionals related to treating teething pain in other ways and always keep this medication or product put away from children in some safe place.

How to use Viscous lidocaine?

Viscous lidocaine is available as a thick liquid, it is only used when needed, with a maximum of 8 doses in 24 hours. If you are using this medication under 3 years of age children, don’t try to use this medication more than every 3 hours, with a maximum of 4 doses in 12 hours.  Always remember that you have to follow all the directions on your prescription label carefully, and use this medication exactly as directed by your health care professionals. If anything that you don’t understand, ask your health care professionals to explain. Don’t try to use this medication more or less often than prescribed by your health care professionals.

Before using viscous lidocaine, shake the bottle well and use the special measuring device or spoon to measure the quantity or dosage. You have to get the correct dosage, don’t try to use a household spoon for measuring the dosage of viscous lidocaine medication.

If you are treating the sore or irritated mouth then the dosage should have been placed in the mouth and swished around the mouth and then spit out until the pain goes away. For avoiding the side effects use the minimum amount of viscous lidocaine medication needed to relieve your pain.

If you are using this medication to treat sore throat then the dosage should have been placed in the mouth and gargled and then may be swallowed. For avoiding the side effects use the minimum amount of viscous lidocaine medication needed to relieve your pain.

If you are using viscous lidocaine in infants and children under 3 years of age, by using a cotton-tipped applicator apply the medication to the affected area and measure the dosage correctly by using a measuring device very carefully. The most important thing is that, unless directed by your doctor, children should not swallow this medication.

What is the dosage for Viscous lidocaine?

The dosage of viscous lidocaine totally depends on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, and weight. Don’t try to use this medication more or less often than prescribed by your health care professionals because it can increase your risk of side effects. If you give the wrong dose then accidentally overdose has occurred in children.

According to the United States manufacturer:

• Children under 3 years of age: Don’t try to give more than 4 doses in a 12-hour period.
• In adults: Don’t try to take more than 8 doses in a 24-hour period and more often than every 3 hours. The quantity per dose is a maximum of 15 milliliters.

According to the Canadian manufacturer:

• Children under 3 years of age: Don’t try to give more than 4 doses in a 24-hour period.
• In adults: Don’t try to take more than 6 doses in a 24-hour period and more often than every 3 hours. The quantity per dose is a maximum of 15 milliliters.

Viscous lidocaine can numb your mouth and throat and after taking this product within 5 minutes it starts to numb the affected area. Numbness can increase your risk of swallowing the wrong way or choking. Before one hour after taking the viscous lidocaine don’t try to chew gum or eat anything while your mouth or throat is numb, especially important for children, and be careful don’t cut or bite your tongue or mouth accidentally. So. if your affected area does not start to numb within 5 minutes then talk to your doctor or health care professionals.

Which special precautions could I take?

You should have follow this special precaution before using viscous lidocaine:

• If you are allergic to lidocaine, anesthetics, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in lidocaine viscous then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
• If you have any medical history then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
• If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while using the viscous lidocaine. If you become pregnant while taking viscous lidocaine then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
• If you are taking some prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products, or planning to take them, then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
• Don’t ever try to drive a car because this drug may make you dizzy or drowsy, or cause vision problems, or not operate any machinery until you see clearly.

Follow all the mentioned precautions carefully, these are all precautions that you can take while using the viscous lidocaine. If you have experienced or faced any of the problems mentioned above then contact your health care professionals immediately.

What are the side effects of using this medication?

Don’t use viscous lidocaine for a longer time period than prescribed, but in case, If you’re using viscous lidocaine for prolonged or repeated long periods then it may result in some serious side effects. If you notice or feel any of the new or worsening symptoms or side effects then tell your health care professionals.

This medication only uses serious side effects because people that are using viscous lidocaine have some serious side effects. Don’t use this medication without your doctor’s prescription, Doctors will suggest this medication by judging the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.

Some common side effects of viscous lidocaine:

Stop taking or using viscous lidocaine if you experience any of these common side effects or symptoms and do not go away, then call your doctor immediately:

• You’ll start feeling hives.
• You’ll start feeling shallow breathing.
• You’ll start feeling drowsiness.
• You’ll start feeling shakiness.
• You’ll start feeling vomiting.
• You’ll start feeling seizures.
• You’ll start feeling ringing in your ears.

Some serious side effects of viscous lidocaine:

Stop taking or using viscous lidocaine if you experience any of these serious side effects or symptoms and do not go away, then call your doctor immediately:

• You’ll start feeling swelling, rashes, or itching (face, tongue, and throat).
• You’ll start feeling blurred or double vision.
• You’ll start feeling difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• You’ll start feeling an irregular heartbeat.

It can also cause other side effects and if you have any unusual problems apart from these while using viscous lidocaine then immediately contact your health care professionals because this is not the complete list of all symptoms and side effects of viscous lidocaine.

What can I do after I forget a dose?

If you forgot to take viscous lidocaine and if it is near the time of your next dose then we suggest you please skip that dose and take it at the next dose at the regular time. Don’t take the dose at irregular times. It makes your dose double and it would be harmful to you.

Alyas remembers that when you start to take viscous lidocaine, always remember to write down all of the instructions that your healthcare professionals tell you when you ask a question.

What happens if I overdose?

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have experienced any of the following symptoms or side effects immediately. Some of the symptoms or side effects can occur because of an overdose of viscous lidocaine.

What can I know about the storage and disposal of this medication?

Store this medication at room temperature and keep them away from light or excessive heat and moisture. And put them away from the reach of the pets and children, we suggest you put that medicine in a tightly closed container in which they came. 

You should have disposed of all the medication that is unneeded in a special way to ensure that children, pets, and other people can’t consume them. You can not flush them or pour them into the drain. You can return them to the pharmacist or the best way is that you can take back the program for returning your medicines.

What other information should I know?

Don’t miss any of your doctor and laboratory appointments because your doctor will check the response of this medicine then he/she will tell you the update or other pieces of information. So, keep all your appointments with your doctor, pharmacist, and the laboratory. 

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you feel your health condition is getting worse or your dose may need to be adjusted.

It is very important to tell your pharmacist about all your prescriptions and non-prescription you were taking and make a list of them and carry the list all time. It would help you in case of emergencies. When you meet or visit your doctor you should bring the list. It’s important to your doctor.

And ensure that no one is taking your medicine or no one has them. And every time when you meet your pharmacist or doctor asks them any of the questions you have about refilling your prescription.

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