What it means
A drug that blocks sodium channels in nerves, so pain signals cannot travel. As a local anesthetic it is injected to numb skin before stitches or procedures, or used as a gel, spray, patch or viscous liquid on skin and mouth. As a class IB antiarrhythmic, it is given by IV for some ventricular rhythm problems. It is often combined with epinephrine for injection to make the numbing last longer.
For the nurse
ISMP lists IV antiarrhythmics such as lidocaine as high-alert medications; give them on a pump with heart monitoring. Watch for toxicity: numbness around the mouth, ringing in the ears, confusion and seizures. After viscous lidocaine in the mouth or throat, the client should not eat or drink until feeling returns, because of the risk of choking.
At a glance
| Drug class | local anesthetic; antiarrhythmic (class IB) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Xylocaine; Lidoderm (patch) |
| Spanish | lidocaína |
| Also written | lignocaine, Xylocaine, Lidoderm |
Related terms
arrhythmia
A heart rhythm that is not normal: too fast, too slow or irregular.
epinephrine
A hormone and drug, also called adrenaline, that raises heart rate and blood pressure and opens the airways.
anesthetic
A drug that causes loss of feeling, with or without loss of consciousness.
ventricular tachycardia
A fast heart rhythm that starts in the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles), usually over 100 beats per minute.