Key facts about Emla
What is Emla?
Emla is the brand name for lidocaine and prilocaine and is available as a topical cream.
What dosages is Emla available in?
Emla is available as a topical cream that contains lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5%.
What is Emla used for?
Emla is a local anesthetic and is used to treat pain on unbroken skin, pretreatment for local infiltration anesthesia (when a medication is injected in an area of your body to take away feeling, usually before surgery) of inner lining of genitals, and pain from minor surgery on inner lining of genitals.
How does Emla work?
Emla is a combination of two local anesthetics, lidocaine and prilocaine. Both medications are absorbed through your skin, where they work on your nerves to lower how much pain you feel. By applying lidocaine/prilocaine onto an area of your skin, it causes a loss of feeling where you apply it.
How do I take Emla?
Emla is typically applied to the affected area(s) and left on for a period of time depending on the condition being treated.
Is it safe for me to take Emla?
Emla is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you. You should not use this medication if you have a known history of sensitivity to local anesthetics of the amide type or to any other component of the product.
Emla Common Side Effects
Common side effects of Emla include:
- Paleness
- Skin redness
- Burning sensation
- Swelling
- Change in temperature sensations
- Itching
- Rash
Emla Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects are rare with Emla. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Allergic reaction: trouble breathing, swelling, low blood pressure, rash
- Methemoglobinemia: blue or gray skin color, seizures, coma, changes in heart rate or rhythm
Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on Emla
- Emla should be used with caution in patients receiving Class I antiarrhythmic drugs (such as tocainide and mexiletine) since the toxic effects are additive and potentially synergistic
Who makes Emla?
AstraZeneca
Is Emla safe in pregnancy?
It is not known if Emla will harm your unborn baby. You should talk to your healthcare provider before using this medication if you are pregnant.
