Study links topical anestetics like EMLA to serious side effects

[apple_juice]

I don't know if anyone has posted this yet but here is a link to a summary of the study.


http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/...s-warning.html

Apparently the risks of reaction to EMLA are higher if used on broken skin and that babies had reactions when approproate dosage was used.

The signs of reaction could very well not be caught in infants.

I just thought it interesting as EMLA is used in infant circs.

[Tinijocaro]

There are other older studies out there saying the same thing, yet doctors continue to use EMLA.

[Treece]

Is it the same stuff used on your gums b4 an injection?

[tammyswanson]

Quote: The reported side-effects include:

* Seizures.
* Irregular heartbeat.
* Difficulty breathing.

In rare cases, the side-effects have resulted in deaths.

Hmmph, sounds suspiciously like what happens when babies are circumcised with no pain meds at all.

[futurmama8]

In nursing school they taught that they mostly use this in pediatrics for like IV's so it doesn't hurt as much and "anesthesia for circumcisions".

[baybee]

Thanks for posting this, I've sent it on to my email lists. Emla is not supposed to be used on an infant under 6 mos of age according to the package insert. There was a case here in B.C. where a baby developed methemoglobinemia after Emla was used (the dr wrote a letter to warn other drs about the side effect).
Here's some good info http://www.cirp.org/library/pain/lander/letters.html

<<Kumar AR, Dunn N, Naqvi M. Methemoglobinemia associated with
prilocaine-lidocaine cream. Clin Pediatr Phila 1997;96:239-240>>