XYLOCAINE® VISCOUS 2%
Astra
Lidocaine HCl
Topical Anesthetic
Action And Clinical Pharmacology: Mechanism of Action: Lidocaine stabilizes the neuronal membrane by inhibiting the ionic fluxes required for the initiation and conduction of impulses thereby, effecting local anesthetic action. Local anesthetics of the amide type are thought to act within the sodium channels of the nerve membrane.
Onset of Action: After application of Xylocaine Viscous, local anesthesia is achieved within 5 minutes. Duration of anesthesia is approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Xylocaine Viscous is ineffective when applied to intact skin.
Hemodynamics: Lidocaine, like other local anesthetics, may also have effects on excitable membranes in the brain and myocardium. If excessive amounts of drug reach the systemic circulation rapidly, symptoms and signs of toxicity will appear, emanating from the central nervous and cardiovascular systems.
CNS toxicity (see Overdose: Symptoms and Treatment) usually precedes the cardiovascular effects since it occurs at lower plasma concentrations. Direct effects of local anesthetics on the heart include slow conduction, negative inotropism and eventually cardiac arrest.
Pharmacokinetics: The rate and extent of absorption depends upon concentration and total dose administered, the specific site of application and duration of exposure. In general, the rate of absorption of local anesthetic agents, following topical application to wound surfaces and mucous membranes is high, and occurs most rapidly after intratracheal and bronchial administration. Lidocaine is also well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, although little intact drug may appear in the circulation because of biotransformation in the liver.
Lidocaine readily crosses the placenta, and equilibrium in regard to free, unbound drug will be reached. Because the degree of plasma protein binding in the fetus is less than in the mother, the total plasma concentration will be greater in the mother, but the free concentrations will be the same.
The plasma binding of lidocaine is dependent on drug concentration, and the fraction bound decreases with increasing concentration. At concentrations of 1 to 4 µg of free base per mL, 60 to 80% of lidocaine is protein bound. Binding is also dependent on the plasma concentration of the alpha-1-acid glycoprotein.
Lidocaine has a total plasma clearance of 0.95 L/min, a volume of distribution at steady state of 91 L, an elimination half-life of 1.6 hours and an estimated hepatic extraction ratio of 0.65. The clearance of lidocaine is almost entirely due to liver metabolism, and depends both on liver blood flow and the activity of metabolizing enzymes.
Lidocaine is metabolized rapidly by the liver, and metabolites and unchanged drug are excreted by the kidneys. Biotransformation includes oxidative N-dealkylation, ring hydroxylation, cleavage of the amide linkage, and conjugation. Only 2% of lidocaine is excreted unchanged. Most of it is metabolized first to monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) and then to glycinexylidide (GX) and 2,6-xylidine. Up to 70% appears in the urine as 4-hydroxy-2,6-xylidine.
The elimination half-life of lidocaine following an i.v. bolus injection is typically 1.5 to 2.0 hours. The elimination half-life in neonates (3.2 hours) is approximately twice that of adults. The half-life may be prolonged 2-fold or more in patients with liver dysfunction. Renal dysfunction does not affect lidocaine kinetics but may increase the accumulation of metabolites.
Acidosis increases the systemic toxicity of lidocaine while the use of CNS depressants may increase the levels of lidocaine required to produce overt CNS effects. Objective adverse manifestations become increasingly apparent with increasing venous plasma levels above 6.0 g free base per mL.
Indications And Clinical Uses: To provide relief of pain and discomfort in connection with: irritated or inflamed mucous membranes of the mouth and pharynx, e.g., lesions following tonsillectomy; introduction of instruments and catheters into the respiratory and digestive tracts, e.g., bronchoscopy, esophagoscopy; painful diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract e.g., esophagitis.
Contra-Indications: In patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to local anesthetics of the amide type or to other components of the solution, e.g., methylparaben, propylparaben.
Manufacturers’ Warnings In Clinical States: Excessive dosage, or short intervals between doses, can result in high plasma levels of lidocaine or its metabolites and serious adverse effects. Following too high or repeated doses of viscous lidocaine in children under the age of 3, serious side effects have been reported. Absorption from the mucous membranes is variable but is especially high from the bronchial tree. Such applications may therefore result in rapidly rising or excessive plasma concentrations, with an increased risk for toxic symptoms, such as convulsions. Patients should be instructed to strictly adhere to the recommended dosage. This is especially important in children where doses vary with weight. The management of serious adverse reactions may require the use of resuscitative equipment, oxygen and other resuscitative drugs (see Overdose: Symptoms and Treatment).
Lidocaine should be used with caution in patients with sepsis and/or traumatized mucosa at the area of application, since under such conditions there is the potential for rapid systemic absorption.
Xylocaine Viscous is for topical use only and must not be used for injection.
Precautions: The lowest dosage that results in effective anesthesia should be used to avoid high plasma levels and serious adverse effects. Absorption from mucous membranes is variable but especially high from the bronchial tree. Tolerance to elevated blood levels varies with the status of the patient. Debilitated, elderly patients, acutely ill patients, and children should be given reduced doses commensurate with their age and physical condition. Lidocaine should also be used with caution in patients with epilepsy, impaired cardiac conduction, bradycardia, impaired hepatic or renal function, and in severe shock.
Because amide-type local anesthetics such as lidocaine are metabolized by the liver, these drugs, especially repeated doses, should be used cautiously in patients with hepatic disease. Patients with severe hepatic disease, because of their inability to metabolize local anesthetics normally, are at greater risk of developing toxic plasma concentrations.
Lidocaine should also be used with caution in patients with impaired cardiovascular function since they may be less able to compensate for functional changes associated with the prolongation of AV conduction produced by these drugs.
Many drugs used during the conduct of anesthesia are considered potential triggering agents for familial malignant hyperthermia. It has been shown that the use of amide local anesthetics in malignant hyperthermia patients is safe. However there is no guarantee that neural blockade will prevent the development of malignant hyperthermia during surgery. It is also difficult to predict the need for supplemental general anesthesia. Therefore a standard protocol for the management of malignant hyperthermia should be available.
Lidocaine should be used with caution in persons with known drug sensitivities. Patients allergic to para-aminobenzoic acid derivatives (procaine, tetracaine, benzocaine, etc.) have not shown cross-sensitivity to lidocaine.
Drug Interactions: Lidocaine should be used with caution in patients receiving other local anesthetics or agents structurally related to amide-type local anesthetics, since the toxic effects are additive.
Information for Patients: See also Blue Section – Information for the Patient “Xylocaine Viscous 2%”. When topical anesthetics are used in the mouth, the patient should be aware that the production of topical anesthesia may impair swallowing and thus enhance the danger of aspiration. Numbness of the tongue or buccal mucosa may enhance the danger of unintentional biting trauma. Food or chewing gum should not be taken while the mouth or throat area is anesthetized.
Pregnancy : It is reasonable to assume that a large number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age have been given lidocaine. No specific disturbances to the reproductive process have so far been reported, e.g., no increased incidence of malformations. However, care should be given during early pregnancy when maximum organogenesis takes place.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women on the effect of lidocaine on the developing fetus.
Labor and Delivery: Lidocaine is not contraindicated in labor and delivery. Should Xylocaine Viscous 2% be used concomitantly with other products containing lidocaine, the total dose contributed by all formulations must be kept in mind.
Lactation: Lidocaine is excreted in the breast milk, but in such small quantities that there is generally no risk of affecting the infant at therapeutic dose levels.
Adverse Reactions: Adverse experiences following the administration of lidocaine are similar in nature to those observed with other amide local anesthetic agents. These adverse experiences are, in general, dose-related and may result from high plasma levels caused by overdosage or rapid absorption, or may result from a hypersensitivity, idiosyncrasy or diminished tolerance on the part of the patient.
Serious adverse experiences are generally systemic in nature. The following types are those most commonly reported. CNS: CNS manifestations are excitatory and/or depressant and may be characterized by circumoral paresthesia, lightheadedness, apprehension, euphoria, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, hyperacusis, tinnitus, blurred vision, vomiting, sensations of heat, cold or numbness, twitching, tremors, convulsions, unconsciousness, respiratory depression and arrest. The excitatory manifestations may be very brief or may not occur at all, in which case the first manifestation of toxicity may be drowsiness merging into unconsciousness and respiratory arrest.
Drowsiness following the administration of lidocaine is usually an early sign of a high lidocaine plasma level and may occur as a consequence of rapid absorption.
Cardiovascular: Cardiovascular manifestations are usually depressant and are characterized by bradycardia, hypotension, arrhythmia, and cardiovascular collapse, which may lead to cardiac arrest.
Allergic: Allergic reactions are characterized by cutaneous lesions, urticaria, edema or in the most severe instances anaphylactic shock. Allergic reactions of the amide type are rare and may occur as a result of sensitivity either to the local anesthetic agent or to other components in the formulation.
Symptoms And Treatment Of Overdose: Acute systemic toxicity from local anesthetics is generally related to high plasma levels encountered during therapeutic use of local anesthetics and originates mainly in the central nervous and the cardiovascular systems (see Adverse Effects, Warnings, and Precautions).Symptoms: CNS toxicity is a graded response with symptoms and signs of escalating severity. The first symptoms are circumoral paresthesia, numbness of the tongue, lightheadedness, hyperacusis and tinnitus. Visual disturbance and muscular tremors are more serious and precede the onset of generalized convulsions. Unconsciousness and grand mal convulsions may follow, which may last from a few seconds to several minutes. Hypoxia and hypercarbia occur rapidly following convulsions due to the increased muscular activity, together with the interference with normal respiration. In severe cases apnea may occur. Acidosis increases the toxic effects of local anesthetics.
Recovery is due to redistribution and metabolism of the local anesthetic drug. Recovery may be rapid unless large amounts of the drug have been administered.
Cardiovascular effects may be seen in cases with high systemic concentrations. Severe hypotension, bradycardia, arrhythmia and cardiovascular collapse may be the result in such cases.
Cardiovascular toxic effects are generally preceded by signs of toxicity in the CNS, unless the patient is receiving a general anesthetic or is heavily sedated with drugs such as a benzodiazepine or barbiturate.
Treatment: The first consideration is prevention, best accomplished by careful and constant monitoring of cardiovascular and respiratory vital signs and the patient’s state of consciousness after each local anesthetic administration. At the first sign of change, oxygen should be administered.
The first step in the management of systemic toxic reactions consists of immediate attention to the maintenance of a patent airway and assisted or controlled ventilation with oxygen and a delivery system capable of permitting immediate positive airway pressure by mask. This may prevent convulsions if they have not already occurred.
If necessary, use drugs to control convulsions. An anticonvulsant should be given i.v. if the convulsions do not stop spontaneously in 15 to 20 seconds. Thiopental 100 to 150 mg i.v. will abort the convulsions rapidly. Alternatively diazepam 5 to 10 mg i.v. may be used although its action is slower. Succinylcholine will stop the muscle convulsions rapidly, but will require tracheal intubation and controlled ventilation, and should only be used by those familiar with these procedures.
If cardiovascular depression is evident (hypotension, bradycardia), ephedrine 5 to 10 mg i.v. should be given and repeated, if necessary, after 2 to 3 minutes.
Should circulatory arrest occur, immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be instituted. Optimal oxygenation and ventilation and circulatory support as well as treatment of acidosis are of vital importance, since hypoxia and acidosis will increase the systemic toxicity of local anesthetics. Epinephrine (0.1 to 0.2 mg as i.v. or intracardial injections) should be given as soon as possible and repeated, if necessary.
Children should be given doses commensurate with their age and weight.
Dosage And Administration: When used concomitantly with other products containing lidocaine, the total dose contributed by all formulations must be kept in mind. Debilitated, elderly and acutely ill patients should be given reduced doses.
The degree of absorption from mucous membranes is variable but especially high from the bronchial tree. The degree of systemic absorption depends on whether the lidocaine viscous is swallowed or expectorated. It is therefore important to expectorate in order to avoid unnecessary absorption. After a swallowed single dose of 300 mg (15 mL) of lidocaine viscous, the resulting blood concentrations are low.
Adults: For treatment of pain from irritated or inflamed mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, 5 to 10 mL of lidocaine viscous (100 to 200 mg lidocaine) is recommended. The solution should be swished around in the mouth and may be spat out or swallowed slowly. Six doses may be given in 24 hours. Total dosage of Xylocaine Viscous in 24 hours should not exceed 60 mL or 1 200 mg lidocaine.
For topical anesthesia before introduction of instruments and catheters into the upper respiratory or digestive tracts, 10 to 15 mL of lidocaine viscous (200 to 300 mg lidocaine) is recommended. For oral analgesia, the solution should be swished around in the mouth and spat out. For use in the pharynx, the solution should be gargled and may be swallowed. When combined with other lidocaine products (e.g., for bronchoscopy), the total dosage of lidocaine should not exceed 400 mg.
For diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract, 5 to 15 mL of lidocaine viscous (100 to 300 mg of lidocaine) should be swallowed quickly in one gulp. Six doses may be given in 24 hours. Total dosage of Xylocaine Viscous in 24 hours should not exceed 60 mL or 1 200 mg lidocaine.
Children (under 12 years): For treatment of irritated or inflamed mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, the dose should not exceed 4 mg/kg. It is recommended that excess lidocaine viscous solution is spat out. No more than 4 doses should be given during 12 to 24 hours.
Children (under 3 years): The dose should be accurately measured and applied to the affected area with a cotton tip applicator. The same procedure is also recommended for older children having problems in expectorating. No more than 4 doses should be given during 12 to 24 hours.
At the present time there is not enough documentation to allow recommendations for a more prolonged use of viscous lidocaine in children under the age of 3.
Availability And Storage: Each mL contains: lidocaine HCl 20 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: amaranth, methylparaben, propylparaben, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid to adjust pH to 6.0 to 7.0. Plastic bottles of 50 and 100 mL with child-resistant closures. Store between 15 and 30°C. Protect from freezing.
XYLOCAINE® VISCOUS 2% Astra Lidocaine HCl Topical Anesthetic
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