Lidocaine Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings

Brand names: Anestacaine, DentiPatch, Dilocaine, L-Caine, Lidoject 1, Lidoject 2, Nervocaine, Truxacaine, UAD Caine, Xylocaine Dental Cartridges, Xylocaine Duo-Trach Kit, Xylocaine HCl, Xylocaine HCl For Spinal, Xylocaine-MPF

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 29, 2023.

Lidocaine Pregnancy Warnings

Use is recommended only if clearly needed and the benefit outweighs the risk.

AU TGA pregnancy category: A
US FDA pregnancy category: B

Comments:
-Consider benefit versus risk before administering to women of childbearing potential or during early pregnancy when maximum organogenesis takes place.
-Maternal and fetal toxicity may occur when used during labor and delivery.
-Fetal heart rate should be monitored continuously and electronic fetal monitoring is advisable.

Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of fetal harm. Fetal bradycardia has been known to follow paracervical block and may be associated with fetal acidosis and hypoxia. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy.

Local anesthetics rapidly cross the placenta and can cause varying degrees of maternal, fetal, and neonatal toxicity. Toxicities can include maternal hypotension and alterations of the central nervous system, peripheral vascular tone, and cardiac function in the fetus or neonate. Accumulation of metabolites should be considered with all routes of administration and recommended doses should not be exceeded. This drug may also delay labor and delivery and lead to diminished muscle strength in the newborn for the first few days of life. Consider monitoring blood glucose levels in the newborn following use of obstetric regional anesthesia.

AU TGA pregnancy category A: Drugs which have been taken by a large number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age without any proven increase in the frequency of malformations or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the fetus having been observed.

US FDA pregnancy category B: Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

See references

Lidocaine Breastfeeding Warnings

Caution is recommended.

Excreted into human milk: Yes (in small amounts)

Comments: Side effects in the nursing infant are unlikely and would probably be limited to an idiosyncratic or allergic reaction.

During a study in which 26 women were given an epidural of lidocaine 2% and bupivacaine 0.5% for pain control of cesarean deliveries, the average milk concentration of lidocaine reported was 860 mcg/L, 460 mcg/L, and 220 mcg/L at 2, 4, and 12 hours after delivery, respectively.

See references

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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