LMX Cream
A Cream That Provides Medical Pain Relief
A topical anesthetic cream provides medical pain relief by transporting lidocaine past the skin barrier. This causes nerve endings not to transmit painful impulses, whether from needle stick pain to Botox injections to laser treatments or vitamin injection pain. The only over-the-counter numbing cream is called LMX4 (Eloquest), and costs about $6-8 for a 2.5 gram tube.
Previously called ELA-Max, a unique liposomal delivery system allows a 4% lidocaine preparation to absorb quickly into the skin.1 Effective in 20 – 30 minutes, it is marketed for “minor scrapes”, as the company does not explicitly market it for needle pain. However, multiple studies have confirmed it works as well as the leading topical anesthetic cream for venipuncture (IV) and dermatology procedure pain in less than half the time.
To use it, rub a small amount into the place where the sharp pain will be. For immunization pain, confirm with the healthcare provider the exact location intended for the shot. Place a “frosting layer” of about 1.25 g (half the tube) on the site and cover with something that won’t leak. Medical professionals use Tegaderm or OpSite products, but if a medical grade occlusive dressing is not available, try Glad Press-n-Seal™. Although not sterile, the numbing cream will be cleaned off the site prior to a shot or needle stick. Glad does not contain Latex, and won’t pull hairs like the other two occlusive dressings.
LMX-4® has been used successfully for Botox injections,5 laser procedures, and other painful dermatologic procedures.6 For spinal taps (lumbar punctures), it improves success in infants. No studies have documented the time until it wears off, but it likely is between 50 and 90 minutes after placement. The liposomes that allow it to absorb so quickly also lead to rapid diffusion, thus LMX-4 may not penetrate as deeply as EMLA. When time permits, EMLA likely gives better numbing depth, but does have side effects in certain populations. LMX-4 is safer, as it doesn’t contain prilocaine, which gives methemoglobinemia, and hasn’t been reported to cause purpura in atopic (allergy-prone) children.
What is the most important information I should know about LMX Cream?
An overdose of numbing medications can cause fatal side effects if too much of the medicine is absorbed through your skin and into your blood. This is more likely to occur when using a numbing medicine without the advice of a medical doctor (such as during a cosmetic procedure like laser hair removal). Overdose symptoms may include uneven heartbeats, seizure (convulsions), coma, slowed breathing, or respiratory failure (breathing stops). Your body may absorb more of this medication if you use too much, if you apply it over large skin areas, or if you apply heat, bandages, or plastic wrap to treated skin areas. Skin that is cut or irritated may also absorb more topical medication than healthy skin.
Use the smallest amount of this medication needed to numb the skin or relieve pain. Do not use large amounts of lidocaine topical, or cover treated skin areas with a bandage or plastic wrap without medical advice. Be aware that many cosmetic procedures are performed without a medical doctor present.
Keep both used and unused lidocaine topical patches out of the reach of children or pets. The amount of lidocaine in the skin patches could be harmful to a child or pet who accidentally sucks on or swallows the patch. Seek emergency medical attention if this happens.
What happens one overdoses on LMX Cream
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Lidocaine topical applied to the skin is not likely to cause an overdose unless you apply more than the recommended dose. Overdose may also occur if you apply heat, bandages, or plastic wrap to treated skin areas.
Improper use of LMX Cream may result in death
Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, confusion, nervousness, ringing in your ears, blurred vision, feeling hot or cold, numbness, muscle twitches, uneven heartbeats, seizure (convulsions), slowed breathing, or respiratory failure (breathing stops), or coma.
What happens one misses a dose of LMX Cream
Since LMX Cream is used as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
To know more about the most safe and purest numbing cream that does not interfere with any kind of permanent ink, tattoo ink or piercing process, log on to our website at http://www.drnumb.com. Or call our toll free number 1-877-786-2001
