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lidocaine-injection, Xylocaine

GENERIC NAME: LIDOCAINE - INJECTION (LIE-doh-cane)

BRAND NAME(S): Xylocaine

Medication Uses | Other Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage

USES: This medication is used to treat irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).

OTHER USES: This drug may also be used for resistant seizure treatment.

HOW TO USE: This medication is generally given by vein (IV). It may also be given in a large muscle (IM - in the shoulder usually) for one or two doses if necessary. Generally 50-100mg is given first IV, then repeated if necessary. This dosing is followed by continuous IV therapy (1-4 mg per minute typically). Doses may need to be reduced in people with heart failure or liver problems.

SIDE EFFECTS: Pain at the site of injection might occur. If this persists or worsens, notify your doctor. Unlikely but report promptly: drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, shakiness, mental changes, ringing in the ears, visual changes, nausea, tingling or numbness, slurred speech, muscle twitching, unusually slow heartbeat, seizures. Notify your doctor immediately if an allergic reaction occurs. Symptoms include: difficulty breathing, skin rash, itching, swelling. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS: Before using this drug, tell your doctor your medical history, including: allergies (especially drug allergies), heart problems, liver disease, severe lung problems. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This drug is excreted into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of all nonprescription and prescription medication you may use, especially of: cimetidine, other drugs used for irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) such as phenytoin, procainamide, quinidine, propranolol. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include seizures, shortness of breath, and slow heartbeat.

NOTES: This drug may interfere with laboratory tests (CK and CPK) when given by injection into a muscle (IM). EKG and other heart monitoring will occur during therapy.

MISSED DOSE: If a dose is missed or IV is interrupted, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

STORAGE: Store at controlled room temperature away from light and moisture.


Last Editorial Review: 3/2/2005




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lidocaine-injection, Xylocaine

Introduction to Arrhythmia

An irregular heartbeat is an arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia). Heart rates can also be irregular. A normal heart rate is 50 to 100 beats per minute. Arrhythmias and abnormal heart rates don't necessarily occur together. Arrhythmias can occur with a normal heart rate, or with heart rates that are slow (called bradyarrhythmias -- less than 50 beats per minute). Arrhythmias can also occur with rapid heart rates (called tachyarrhythmias -- faster than 100 beats per minute). In the United States, more than 850,000 people are hospitalized for an arrhythmia each year.

What causes an arrhythmia?

Arrhythmias may be caused by many different factors, including:

  • Coronary artery disease.
  • Electrolyte imbalances in your blood (such as sodium or potassium).
  • Changes in your heart muscle.
  • Injury from a heart attack.
  • Healing process after heart surgery.
  • Irregula...

Read the Arrhythmia article »




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