Lidocaine Cream

Lidocaine is a widely used antiarrhythmic and amide-type local anesthetic. As an anesthetic agent, it is available as an ointment, jelly, patch, or aerosol for topical use, as an oral solution, and as an injection. Lidocaine is classified as a class Ib antiarrhythmic. It may be considered for ventricular fibrillation (VF) and pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT) that is unresponsive to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), defibrillation, and vasopressor therapy. Evidence is inadequate regarding the routine use of lidocaine after cardiac arrest or early (within the first hour) after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). However, prophylactic use of lidocaine may be considered in certain circumstances (e.g., during emergency medical services transport) when treatment of recurrent VF/pVT may be challenging. Due to the potential for serious adverse reactions, including cardiovascular depression, continuous electrocardiogram monitoring is recommended during intravenous lidocaine treatment. There is limited evidence suggesting that nebulized lidocaine exhibits steroid-sparing effects when used in corticosteroid-dependent asthmatics.456 However, extreme caution is recommended until long-term safety and efficacy can be established.