Emla

Emla (other trade names include: Prilox) is a mixture of two local anaesthetics, lignocaine and prilocaine.

These local anaesthetics are combined with special agents which allow the products to pass through the skin. Once through the skin the numbing effect they produce allows minor surgical procedures to be done without you feeling any pain. However you may still experience sensations such as pressure and touch in this area.

Emla cream is used for pain relief on the skin prior to procedures.

These procedures may include taking blood samples, skin grafting, cleaning leg ulcers or inserting intravenous catheters.

Recommendations

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. Use Emla exactly as directed.

Apply a thick layer of Emla cream to the skin under an airtight dressing or plastic food wrap.

On skin:

Adults:
For minor skin procedures (e.g. needle insertion and surgical treatment) apply approximately ½ tube (2 g) for a minimum of 1 hour, maximum 5 hours. For larger procedures (e.g. skin grafting) apply 1.5-2 g/10 cm2 for a minimum of 2 hours, maximum 5 hours.

Children:
Minor skin procedures (e.g. needle insertion and surgical treatment), apply approximately 1 g/10cm2, application time approximately 1 hour.

Neonates under the age of 3 months:
Apply up to 1 g of cream on a skin area no larger than 10 cm2.

Infants between 3 and 11 months of age:
Apply up to 2 g of cream on a total skin area of no larger than 20 cm2. Application time approximately 1 hour and not more than 4 hours.

Children between 1-5 years:
Apply up to 10 g of cream on a skin area no larger than 100 cm3.

Children between 6-11 years:
Apply up to 20 g of cream on a total skin area no larger than 200 cm2.

Leg ulcers in adults:
Apply a thick layer of cream approximately 1-2 g/10 cm2 up to a total of 10 g to the leg ulcer. Cover with an air-tight dressing. The application time should be at least 30 minutes, but up to 60 minutes may improve the anaesthesia further. Cleansing should start without delay after the removal of the cream. Remove the cream with cotton gauze.

Remember to apply Emla on intact skin at least one hour before your procedure is due. For leg ulcers remember to apply Emla 30 minutes before your ulcer is due to be cleaned.Tell your doctor exactly when you put Emla on. If you do not, the procedure may hurt more than it would otherwise.

If you are using Emla on leg ulcers, only use the tube once. Throw out any cream left in the tube after use.

Precautions

Do not use Emla cream on areas with an infection, skin rash, cuts, grazes or other open wounds, with the exception of leg ulcers. Tell your doctor before using Emla, if you have dermatitis or methaemoglobinaemia.

Ingredients

Active ingredients: lignocaine and prilocaine.