{"id":60279,"date":"2023-09-07T16:53:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T20:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=60279"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:32:18","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:32:18","slug":"lidocaine-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/lidocaine-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Lidocaine (Xylocaine) alternatives: What can I take instead of lidocaine?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just because <\/span>lidocaine<\/span><\/a> is the most commonly used local anesthetic for sedation approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it does not mean that lidocaine is the right choice for everyone. While its forte provides local pain relief by numbing the region where it is applied or injected, other options exist. Those alternatives may offer a longer action duration or help avoid an allergic reaction. What they lack is the diversity of formulations that lidocaine is available. To help better sift through the options to find a fitting substitute for lidocaine, we will present detailed comparisons to take any ideas to a healthcare provider for medical advice.<\/span><\/p>\n

What can I take in place of lidocaine?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Local anesthetics<\/span><\/a> or pain relievers come from one of two major classes. Lidocaine headlines the amide group of local anesthetic agents. They produce analgesia by blocking sodium channels within nerve cells. Lidocaine can be injected in a subcutaneous fashion (under the skin), infiltrated into the skin, applied as a topical gel or patch, or swished in the mouth. Intravenous lidocaine is a treatment for certain heart rhythm problems. Although not nearly as adaptable to different routes of application, other amide anesthetics include mepivacaine, prilocaine, ropivacaine, and bupivacaine.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second local anesthetic class is the ester family, headlined by Novacaine (procaine), the infamous injectable numbing agent used by dentists historically. Tetracaine, chloroprocaine, and benzocaine are other esters.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Compare Lidocaine (Xylocaine) alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Drug name<\/b><\/td>\nUses<\/b><\/td>\nDosage<\/b><\/td>\nSavings options<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Xylocaine (lidocaine) 1% solution<\/span><\/td>\nLocal or regional anesthesia, heart arrhythmia<\/span><\/td>\nProcedure-dependent dose infiltrated into tissue locally for procedures, variable antiarrhythmic dosing<\/span><\/td>\nXylocaine 1% solution coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Xylocaine (lidocaine) 1% preservative-free solution<\/span><\/td>\nLocal or regional anesthesia, heart arrhythmia<\/span><\/td>\nProcedure-dependent dose infiltrated into tissue locally for procedures, variable antiarrhythmic dosing<\/span><\/td>\nXylocaine 1% preservative-free solution<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Xylocaine (lidocaine) 1% with epinephrine solution<\/span><\/td>\nLocal or regional anesthesia<\/span><\/td>\nWeight-based 20 to 500 mg infiltrated into tissue locally<\/span><\/td>\nXylocaine 1% with epinephrine solution coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lidocaine 5% patch<\/span><\/td>\nPost-herpetic neuralgia<\/span><\/td>\nApply one patch to the affected area for up to 12 hours per day as needed<\/span><\/td>\nLidocaine 5% patch coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lidocaine 2% viscous solution<\/span><\/td>\nOral, pharyngeal, or nasal anesthesia<\/span><\/td>\n1 to 5 mL applied every 3 hours as needed<\/span><\/td>\nLidocaine 2% viscous solution coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lidocaine 3% cream<\/span><\/td>\nPainful skin conditions<\/span><\/td>\nApply 2 to 3 times daily as needed<\/span><\/td>\nLidocaine 3% cream coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marcaine (bupivacaine) 0.25% solution<\/span><\/td>\nLocal or regional anesthesia<\/span><\/td>\nProcedure-dependent dose infiltrated into tissue locally for procedures<\/span><\/td>\nMarcaine 0.25% solution coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marcaine (bupivacaine) 0.25% with epinephrine<\/span><\/td>\nLocal or regional anesthesia<\/span><\/td>\nProcedure-dependent dose infiltrated into tissue locally for procedures<\/span><\/td>\nMarcaine 0.25% with epinephrine solution<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Altacaine (tetracaine) ophthalmic<\/span><\/td>\nOphthalmic anesthesia<\/span><\/td>\n1 drop into the affected eye as needed<\/span><\/td>\nAltacaine coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lidocaine 2.5% with prilocaine 2.5% cream<\/span><\/td>\nLocal anesthesia<\/span><\/td>\n2 grams applied to area 1 hour before procedure<\/span><\/td>\nLidocaine 2.5% with prilocaine 2.5% cream coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Naropin (ropivacaine) 0.5% solution<\/span><\/td>\nLocal or regional anesthesia<\/span><\/td>\nProcedure-dependent dose infiltrated into tissue locally for procedures<\/span><\/td>\nNaropin solution coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nesacaine (chloroprocaine) 1% solution<\/span><\/td>\nLocal or regional anesthesia<\/span><\/td>\nProcedure-dependent dose infiltrated into tissue locally for procedure<\/span><\/td>\nNesacaine coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Benzodent (benzocaine oropharyngeal) 20% topical cream<\/span><\/td>\nLocal anesthesia<\/span><\/td>\nApplied to the affected area of mouth four times daily as needed<\/span><\/td>\nBenzodent coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Other alternatives to lidocaine<\/span><\/h3>\n