Prilocaine

Description

Prilocaine is an effective numbing medicine used before surgical procedures. It blocks nerve signals from a specific part of the body and is categorized as a local anesthetic medicine. This medicine is not recommended for use in patients below 6 months of age.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Prilocaine

  • Burning or stinging sensation
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting
  • Headache
  • Shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
  • Convulsions (seizures)
  • Change in heart rate
  • Edema
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Uses of Prilocaine

What is it prescribed for?

  • Regional/local anesthesia
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The effect of this medicine can be observed within 2-3 minutes of administration of the dose.
  • Duration of effect
    The effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 1.5 hours.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.

Allergy

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to prilocaine, other amide-type local anesthetics, or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.

Methemoglobinemia

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known history of idiopathic or congenital methemoglobinemia due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
General warnings

Malignant Hyperthermia

Use of this medicine may cause malignant hyperthermia, a condition characterized by a rapid rise in body temperature and severe muscle pain. Therapy should be discontinued at the first instance of this condition. Appropriate corrective measures and replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition.

Seizures

This medicine should be used with caution since it increases the risk of seizures. Appropriate corrective measures or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition.

Respiratory arrest

This medicine should be used with extreme caution since it increases the risk of respiratory arrest. Appropriate corrective measures and replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition.

Methemoglobinemia

This medicine should be used with extreme caution since it increases the risk of methemoglobinemia. Appropriate corrective measures, dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition.

Driving or Operating machines

Use of this medicine may cause blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, or impaired thinking abilities in some patients. It is advised that you do not perform any activities such as driving a vehicle or operating machinery until these symptoms subside or disappear.

Use in Pediatrics

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients below 6 months of age since the safety and efficacy of use are not clinically established for such patients.

Missed Dose

Since this medicine is usually given prior to a surgical procedure, the likelihood of missing a dose is very low.

Overdose

Since this medicine is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Nitroglycerin

Dapsone

Paracetamol

Phenytoin

Chloroquine

Metoclopramide

Nitrofurantoin

Flutamide

Disease interactions

Disease

Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This medicine is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional. Inform the doctor if you have a known allergy to this medicine. Report to the doctor all your current medicines as well as your medical conditions before receiving this medicine.
Miscelleneous

Usage does not depend on food timings

To be taken as instructed by doctor

Causes sleepiness

How it works
This medicine works by blocking pain signals from the body to the brain.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Unknown

Approved

Classification

Category

Local injectable anesthetics

Schedule

Schedule H

Prilocaine - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2018 [cited 22 March 2018]. Available from:

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00750

DailyMed - Prilocaine hydrochloride injection, solution [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 22 March 2018]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ca454f96-2e2d-46ed-95af-c741726773de

[Internet]. 2018 [cited 22 March 2018]. Available from:

https://www2.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/163#

[Internet]. 2018 [cited 22 March 2018]. Available from:

https://www2.medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.10690.latest.pdf

Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2018 [cited 22 March 2018]. Available from:

http://www.tga.gov.au/prescribing-medicines-pregnancy-database

[Internet]. Medsafe.govt.nz. 2018 [cited 22 March 2018]. Available from:

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/c/Citanestplaininj.pdf

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Information on this page was last updated on 5 Apr 2018

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.