Description
Lidocaine belongs to the family of medicines called local anesthetics. This medicine 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.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Gel/Jelly
Before Using
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 this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine 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.
Drug Interactions
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 this medicine, 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 this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Dronedarone
- Saquinavir
- Vernakalant
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Amifampridine
- Amiodarone
- Amprenavir
- Arbutamine
- Bupivacaine Liposome
- Bupropion
- Cobicistat
- Darunavir
- Dasabuvir
- Delavirdine
- Disopyramide
- Donepezil
- Encainide
- Etravirine
- Flecainide
- Fosamprenavir
- Fosphenytoin
- Hyaluronidase
- Lopinavir
- Metoprolol
- Mexiletine
- Moricizine
- Nadolol
- Phenytoin
- Procainamide
- Propafenone
- Quinidine
- Sotalol
- Succinylcholine
- Telaprevir
- Tocainide
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Cimetidine
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Proper Use
A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine is given by applying the correct number of drops to the surface of your eye in the area of the planned procedure. For most procedures, two drops will be all that is needed. However, for some other procedures, several applications of the medicine may be needed.
Precautions
After lidocaine is applied to the eye, do not rub or wipe the eye until the feeling in the eye returns. To do so may cause injury or damage to the eye.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Blurred vision or other changes in vision
- burning feeling at site of application
- redness of the white part of eyes or inside of eyelids
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Headache
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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