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Emla User Reviews & Ratings

Emla has an average rating of 7.8 out of 10 from a total of 21 reviews on Drugs.com. 71% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 14% reported a negative experience.

Condition Avg. Rating Reviews Compare
Anesthesia
7.6
19 reviews for Anesthesia 124 medications

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Reviews for Emla

  • Mad...
  • May 17, 2018

For Anesthesia "Today I got my first tattoo. I was reading these comments this morning because I bought Emla numbing cream, and I’m so scared of needles I was skeptical of it even working! I must say that when I got to my appointment, she wiped my arm down, and it freaked me out, my arm was so incredibly numb it felt like rubber. She started and told me she had done the first line, and I literally felt nothing. I could hear buzzing, and that was all. About 40 mins in, and it was starting to wear off, but it was good because I felt like the cream eased me into it, and then when I could actually feel it, it was almost done and wasn’t too bad :)"

9 / 10
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42 Report
  • Sar...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • January 13, 2016

For Anesthesia "I have a phobia of needles, and this is the way to get through blood tests. I had to keep getting blood tests due to having low levels of iron in my blood, and if this numbing cream wasn't available, I don't know how I'd have coped. Come to think of it, using anything sharp on me is a nightmare. I didn't trust this cream to work more at first because quite a few medications haven't worked for me, but this was a godsend."

9 / 10
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52 Report
  • Pin...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 7, 2020

For Anesthesia "Needed an IV insertion for a contrast MRI, and insisted that EMLA be used. Applied 1.5 hrs. before the procedure, and I barely was aware of the needle at all. It makes a huge difference since I am phobic about needles. My rule now is without EMLA, you can't touch me. You insert the IV when and where I tell you, or I am leaving!"

9 / 10
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30 Report
  • Sco...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • February 27, 2019

For Anesthesia "I use it when I have sex. It's amazing. I can last for ages now and long enough for my partner to orgasm every time. It's changed our sex life. I apply it to the tip of my penis about 30 mins before sex. Rub it in well to the entire head of the penis. Downside, obviously, is I don't get the same sensation, but after about 30 minutes of lovemaking, the cream has worn off and I'm ready to ejaculate."

10 / 10
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56 Report
  • Sam...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 20, 2021

For Anesthesia "I was so, so nervous to get a blood test for work, but I knew it needed to be done. I used EMLA in a thick layer on both inner elbow creases, that way, the nurse could determine which side had the better vein for her to use. I seriously didn’t feel a single thing!! You could feel the cold alcohol swab, but no needle pinch whatsoever. So amazing, this stuff is the best for people with needle phobia—highly recommend!"

10 / 10
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22 Report

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  • Tro...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 4, 2021

For Anesthesia "Love this. I'm using it for a 5-hour tattoo, and I’m halfway through the session. It is completely numb for the first hour, and then it wears down a bit, but it is still bearable. I can sit here, just relaxed while my arm gets needled."

10 / 10
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16 Report
  • Kev...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • May 12, 2021

"I use Emla for premature ejaculation. I apply it to the head of my penis about 30 minutes before (make sure you wipe it off prior to engaging). I last 1-2 minutes without it and 5-10 minutes when I have used it."

10 / 10
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16 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • May 23, 2012

For Anesthesia "Without Emla cream, I don't know how I would have made it through my cancer treatments. Thank you so much. I am now finding it impossible to find Emla. My pharmacy has told me it has stopped being manufactured. Is this true? Please say NO."

10 / 10
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38 Report
  • Ree...
  • October 28, 2013

For Anesthesia "I use Emla with a dermaroller. I apply a thin layer and put cling film over it for 60 minutes before starting treatment. It completely numbs the area, and I can't feel the 1.5 mm needles at all. I can now get through a session in 5 minutes instead of 30, where I had to keep stopping because of pain. I bought this for just over $20 for a 5 g tube at Chemist Warehouse. It's expensive, but I only need one every 6 weeks, and 5 g covers my whole buttock and thigh area. I love this stuff!"

10 / 10
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26 Report
  • sam...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • October 11, 2022

For Anesthesia "I love this product! I'm a massive needle phobic, I would literally not get anything checked and live in pain until I almost died of pneumonia. They tried freeze sprays, no good-my veins would collapse with the stress. I have to have regular bloods done since, and there is no way I could do it without Emla."

10 / 10
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6 Report
  • Gam...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 22, 2024

"I rub a bit of this on the head of my penis 15 minutes before sex, then wash it off. It's fantastic - sex now lasts much longer, my wife gets longer pleasure and I still get a satisfying feeling from ejaculation too. Don't wonder if sex can last longer, this will change everything."

10 / 10
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3 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • June 22, 2019

For Anesthesia "Does not work at all! I found it actually made it harder for the phlebotomist to find my small, deep, rolling veins as well. I've tried using the medication for almost 2 years, as I need blood draws very often, and I never felt much relief. When using the cream, it seemed to burn more than without it. If it works for some people, that’s great, but I find it’s better to just do without it. When I get a very skilled phlebotomist, I have no pain or issues."

2 / 10
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12 Report
  • Evi...
  • October 27, 2022

For Anesthesia "I used this cream a few years ago and was amazed how good it was, worked within 30 mins and was super numb like you get with a needle anesthetic. I just tried it again and couldn't believe how poor its effect was. I used it on my hand to have a skin cancer removed, no numbing happened at all! The formula has been changed since I last used it and you never had to put a dressing over it to work, what rubbish it is."

1 / 10
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3 Report
  • Fra...
  • December 13, 2015

For Anesthesia "I only use Emla to have sex. I use it one hour before I have sex with my wife, and I enjoy longer, intensive sex. I am German, and I bought it in Germany for €27.90 in a 25 mg tube, much, much cheaper than here."

10 / 10
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18 Report
  • wow...
  • August 16, 2015

For Anesthesia "Emla will do the job for only half an hour! It takes like 2 hours when you apply, and you can't count on it more than 30-40 minutes. If you want to use Emla for a tattoo, anything bigger than the palm of your hand won't do the job! A little cute butterfly? Buy this product, you'll love it! A big rib piece? You better hold the pain and cry and faint than count on this cream! And I do not know if you can reapply some during the tattoo session. Just be aware that if the pain comes back and your tattoo is not over, your brain will freak out at least 6-7 times more, and so will the pain! This product can be a b*tch if you want to use it on a $200 tattoo."

4 / 10
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15 Report
  • Evi...
  • October 27, 2022

For Anesthesia "I used this cream a few years ago and was amazed how good it was, worked within 30 mins and was super numb like you get with a needle anesthetic. I just tried it again and couldn't believe how poor its effect was. I used it on my hand to have a skin cancer removed, no numbing happened at all! The formula has been changed since I last used it and you never had to put a dressing over it to work, what rubbish it is."

1 / 10
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0 Report
  • Tal...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 6, 2020

For Anesthesia "Tried it for the first time today for sex, to stop premature ejaculation. Unbelievable, I lasted more than an hour. What a transformation in my sex life."

10 / 10
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24 Report
  • Tat...
  • October 19, 2020

For Anesthesia "I used Emla for a large tattoo. It worked well for about 2 hours and then wore off. It would be great for small tattoos or shorter tattoo sessions. Quite expensive in Canada!"

8 / 10
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9 Report
  • Som...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 4, 2023

For Anesthesia "It really does work. You won't be able to feel it kick in, but it will do the job well."

9 / 10
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2 Report
  • Dav...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 30, 2019

For Anesthesia "Was advised Emla would help when having a huge tattoo on shoulder/arm, well, it was still incredibly sore."

7 / 10
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8 Report
  • Hug...
  • January 30, 2020

For Anesthesia "It does not make a difference at all when I had 4 injections, but for other smaller procedures, it would work."

5 / 10
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4 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.