Lidocaine User Reviews & Ratings

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2023

For Anesthesia "I have experienced side effects from lidocaine and novocaine my entire life. It was so severe with Novocaine that I often get dental procedures done without it because the feeling after being injected is so much worse than the pain from the procedure without it. It's been getting progressively worse throughout my life, and I am currently fifty years old. The last time I needed lidocaine was to do a suture on my hand in the emergency room. Within seconds of injection, I feel a rush of warmth throughout my body, but then I get cold and sweaty. My ears start to ring, and I get so lightheaded I feel like I'm going to pass out. I get nauseous, and my heart feels like it's going to explode. I get uncontrollable tremors all over my body. It's been suggested, strongly suggested, to me by my medical staff to wear a medical alert bracelet for an allergy to lidocaine. I've been telling everyone my whole life about this horrible reaction I feel and have been dismissed."

• Kri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2019

For Costochondritis "I had severe back pain for years along my bra line area: degenerative disc disease. I would wake up in the night in such bad pain it would be hard for me to take a breath. After seeing many doctors and taking many different pain pills, I was referred to a pain specialist who gave me lidocaine injections into the sore spots of my back. I felt instant relief and was relatively pain-free for six months and had to go again. This felt like a miracle, after trying so many different things, to be able to tolerate the pain I continue to have. I wish I would have been told about lidocaine injections a lot sooner!"

• Tad...
• December 26, 2020

For Anesthesia "Lidocaine was injected to remove a suspect mole on my arm. Within minutes, I had uncontrollable tremors from mid-chest radiating to my legs. I realized that over the years, I had experienced this reaction during prior procedures when administered this drug (i.e., dental). The severity of the reaction has been cumulative, with the last two being the most severe and frightening. My GP believes it’s a neurological response rather than a classic allergy. There are two groups of local anesthetics: Amides and Esters. Lidocaine is an Amide. My dentist, ophthalmologist, and dermatologist take my history seriously and do not use drugs from the Amides group. I seem to do fine on Esters."

• Lon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2016

For Anesthesia "I now wear a medical alert bracelet because no one believes I'm allergic to lidocaine, and they give it to me anyway. My last experience with Mohs surgery, I immediately passed into a deep sleep and then out. I felt like I couldn't move. It didn't last long. The first time, I didn't get it, so they had to give me more. I passed out again, but my chest hurt, and it was hard to breathe. No one really checked on me. My husband was with me. The third time, I passed out, and my chest really hurt, and I had trouble breathing. Chest pain lasted a couple of weeks. I'm 58, and I do not want to die from this stuff. Doctors do not believe me. They say I just get drunk. I was more than drunk."

• CMa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2019

For Anesthesia "I had terrible adverse reactions from lidocaine after several dentist visits. Every time I received a lidocaine injection, it felt like I was having a heart attack (it was actually severe heart palpitations), made me feel cold, and at one point triggered a minor seizure. I also have epilepsy, so it is very possible that lidocaine is not recommended for anyone with serious conditions (but my dentists kept using it anyway). Be careful if you are considering using lidocaine as a local anesthetic."

• Zen...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 13, 2021

For Anesthesia "Since I was 10 years old, I've been experiencing adverse responses to lidocaine when injected. Typically, I become hypotensive and pass out. Sometimes, I have seizures. What I have found is that providers are skeptical of this sensitivity/hypersensitivity I have to lidocaine. Once again, this week, I had a neurologist inject 2% lidocaine into the trapezius muscle. Of note, I have a high pain tolerance, and I'm not afraid of needles. Once again, I became dizzy, nauseous, hypotensive, and passed out. I wish I could convey to providers that I truly have the sensitivity and that lidocaine isn't always a benign drug."

• Suz...
• July 10, 2013

For Costochondritis "After being diagnosed with costochondritis, I was given a narcotic painkiller, NSAIDs, Voltaren gel, and lidocaine patches to help with the pain (which was hideous). None of these medications provided relief, so I was referred to my rheumatologist to receive steroid injections. However, my rheumatologist suggested trying injections of xylocaine into the cartilage of the affected ribs. By the time I got home, all of the pain was gone. It has been 3 days now, and I am still pain-free. These injections were a miracle solution for me, and I would absolutely recommend trying this before doing steroid injections to anyone who has costochondritis. I did not feel the injections or the medication going in and have had no side effects whatsoever."

• Non...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2020

For Anesthesia "Lidocaine is mixed with epinephrine, and it's the epinephrine that is causing many people's reactions. Epinephrine speeds up heart rate. Lidocaine is available without epinephrine. The effect of epinephrine on the patient allows medical personnel to avoid using too much lidocaine since epinephrine side effects are detectable."

• rec...
• January 21, 2014

For Anesthesia "Use of lidocaine injection to numb insertion site for IV resulted in a burning sensation in the vein that traveled to the heart in 10-15 seconds. This was followed by pale skin, cold sweat, BP drop, and unconsciousness for approx. 15 minutes. I feel usage in my case was unnecessary, dangerous, and ineffective as it had worn off by the time IV was inserted."

• Gar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2021

For Anesthesia "I had lidocaine given as a nerve block to see if radiofrequency ablation will work. I have a lot of nerve and muscle pain down in my sacroiliac spine, and my mid-back is tender to the touch, and it affects my ribs. Anyway, they sedated me and did the injection. When I woke up, I was supposed to feel a lot better, but apart from being slightly numb on one side (left, if it matters), everything else in my back was painfully stiff. It got worse as the lidocaine wore off, and it has been days, and it flared my whole body into some kind of immune response because my legs are weak and tingling, and my arms are weak, and there are muscles forcibly flexed and hot to the touch in my forearms. This is so weird that I just want to warn people out there to think before you get the seemingly innocuous injection."

• Aco...
• March 1, 2018

For Anesthesia "I have used 5% lidocaine patches for sciatica and bursitis in my thighs. I can usually sit only for 10 to 15 minutes before the pain becomes unbearable. A patch takes about 5 minutes to completely relieve the pain for the day. That problem has cleared, but now I have a broken leg requiring a lot of sitting and lying down. The pain is back when I sit, but now my insurance, United Health Care, has denied approval to use it, so I could only sit when I had to for the last 4 weeks, otherwise, stand or lie down. Wheelchairs can't be used for longer than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. The 5% patches are great if you can get them."

• Ded...
• February 24, 2020

"I have chronic back pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and was reluctant but went through with the first treatment with systemic lidocaine. It did nothing, it didn't even make me drowsy. It was a waste of time and a 3-month wait."

• Bob...
• October 15, 2008

"I have had two injections in both my shoulders. The right one I damaged just putting my coat on. I was in serious pain for 10 months. After having the injection 1 year ago, I have been pain-free. It was very painful when I had it and for about a week after, but then it's been fine. My left has been a frozen shoulder for well over 10 years, and I have just had an injection for it. It did not hurt as much. No side effects."

• Ekn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 19, 2021

"I went today for a lidocaine infusion for fibromyalgia. I went in with the only fear of the IV. After reading a few reviews, I was not worried but mentally prepared. I did not have any reactions or side effects. I was able to get up after a little over an hour, put my boots on, and walk out. I was able to get my errands done after. My pain going in was a 7, and within 10 minutes down to 0. Even my lower back from my spinal fusion felt great until I started shopping. Now it's been a few hours, and other than a very rare 2 from my back, I have no pain."

• Mam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2021

For Costochondritis "This has been prescribed for back and nerve pain. I've recently had an infusion into my hand (right) to see if it would help the nerve pain I've been suffering for over 20 years, and I have to say I'm over the moon with my 1st results. I have no pain in my back on the right side, and for the 1st time in over 20 years. I sat up on the bed without any help, this is my 1st of 3 procedures I've been told. So far, the only thing I've noticed is feeling a little over warm, and not trying to overdo things. Looking forward to my next one."

• msj...
• January 23, 2016

For Anesthesia "I had an injection as a test to see if another RFA would be warranted. It's been 1 1/2 months, and the burning is almost gone. Muscle pain... other pain exists, but the burning has lessened so much! I'm considering an infusion... or wait and see if I can get another injection into the nerves affected...? Any words appreciated. Thanks. Also, they keep doing clinical trials I see online, but with no results (for infusion). Why is that? Why can't we know what the risks and benefits of the trials are? Who is doing these, and what results do they have?"

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2022

For Anesthesia "Relative was administered lidocaine as local anesthesia, started having seizures and died. We are still trying to determine what happened."

• and...
• April 3, 2017

For Anesthesia "I used this after having a tooth pulled, it caused nausea."

• Lid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2021

For Anesthesia "For as much money as the lidocaine patches cost, I am surprised that the adhesive is not better. The patches hardly stick at all and need to be taped on."

• YAH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2018

Lidocaine for Anesthesia "Not a great deal of relief in both lumbar spine, hips, and legs, also the problems have at levels C6, C7 much the same. Side effects: great loss of bowel control, not nice."

• Dan...
• August 8, 2021

For Anesthesia "Lidocaine patches are the worst ever. They will not stay on, they're cheap plastic. They can't even deliver what they're supposed to. I would give them a 0/10 if I could."