LidocaineOver the counter

Pronounced LYE-doe-kane

Brand names: Lidoderm, Xylocaine

Type: Local anesthetic · All Pain Relief & Fever Medicines

What Lidocaine is used for

• Numbing skin before procedures
• Nerve pain after shingles (patches)
• Mouth and throat pain (viscous form)
• Abnormal heart rhythms (hospital injection)

Common side effects

• Skin redness where applied
• Mild burning or itching
• Numbness lasting longer than expected

Important cautions

• Too much absorbed lidocaine can affect the heart and brain — follow label limits on patches and gels
• Do not apply patches to broken or infected skin unless directed

How it comes

Skin patches, gels and creams, injection (hospital and dental), viscous liquid. This guide lists forms only — it never lists strengths or doses.