4.1. Therapeutic indications

Local anaesthetic for topical use to produce surface anaesthesia of the skin prior to:

- venous cannulation or venipuncture

- administration of painful topical treatments on larger surface areas of intact skin where use of a topical anaesthetic is appropriate.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

For cutaneous use only.

Venous cannulation or venipuncture:

Adults, including elderly, and children over one month of age:

Apply 1g to 2.5g of cream onto the skin to cover a 2.5cm x 2.5cm (6.25cm2) area where venous cannulation or venipuncture will occur. No more than 1g of cream should be applied to infants below the age of 1 year. 1g of cream equates to approximately 5cm of cream squeezed from the 5g tube, or 3.5cm from the 30g tube.

The cream should remain undisturbed and the area can be covered with an occlusive dressing to prevent disturbance or interference by the patient or other external factors. Adequate anaesthesia should be obtained after 30 minutes, but the LMX4 Cream may be applied for up to 5 hours under a dressing. Prior to starting the procedure, the LMX4 Cream should be removed using a clean gauze swab and the site for venous cannulation or venipuncture prepared in the usual manner. The procedure should be initiated shortly after the cream has been removed. Maximum application time for 1 month up to 3 month infant should not exceed 60 minutes. Maximum application time for 3 month up to 12 month infant should not exceed 4 hours. Maximum application for 12 month infant – adult should not exceed 5 hours.

LMX4 is not recommended for use in infants under one month of age.

Painful topical treatments on larger surface areas of intact skin:

Adults, including the elderly.

Apply the cream at a dosage of approximately 1.5g to 2g LMX4 /10cm2 skin to be treated, or multiples thereof, up to a maximum area of 900cm2. Apply until response is achieved, which is generally for between 30 to 60 minutes in clinical studies.

Typical estimated larger quantities would be 30g-40g/200cm2 (approximately 10cm x 20cm, or covering a face), 45g-60g/300cm2 (approximately 10cm x 30cm or covering an arm), or 135g-180g/900cm2 (approximately 30cm x 30cm, or covering a torso or back).

Indirect evidence has shown that successive applications of lidocaine-based topical treatments can lead to systemic accumulation of lidocaine. LMX4 must therefore not be reapplied for 12 hours following its removal, giving a maximum of 2 doses in any 24 hour period.

The LMX4 cream should be applied evenly at the specified dosage with a uniform thickness across the area where the topical treatment will occur. Measures may be taken to ensure the cream remains undisturbed until adequate analgesia has been achieved.

Prior to starting the procedure, the LMX4 Cream should be removed using a clean gauze swab and the site for topical treatment prepared in the usual manner. The procedure should be initiated shortly after the cream has been removed.

Use of LMX4 is not recommended for this indication in patients below 18 years of age.

4.3. Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance, or any of the amide-type local anaesthetics, or any of the excipients.

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes.

Do not apply to irritated skin or if excessive irritation develops. If condition worsens, or if symptoms persist unaltered for more than seven days or clear up and occur again within only a few days, discontinue use of this product and consult a doctor.

Do not use in large quantities over raw or blistered areas.

LMX4 contains 75mg propylene glycol in each 1g. Propylene glycol my cause skin irritation. Because this medicine contains propylene glycol, do not use it on open wounds or large areas of broken or damaged skin (such as burns) without checking with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not use on infants below one month.

LMX4 contains 15mg benzyl alcohol in each 1g. Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions or mild local irritation.

LMX4 has not been applied to wounds, mucous membranes or in areas of atopic dermatitis as there are no clinical data in relation to these.

Anaesthetic efficacy during the heel lancing of neonates has not been studied. Application of lidocaine to larger areas or for longer times than those recommended could result in sufficient absorption of lidocaine resulting in serious adverse effects.

Studies in laboratory animals (guinea pigs) have shown that lidocaine has an ototoxic effect when instilled into the middle ear. In these same studies, animals exposed to lidocaine in the external auditory canal only showed no abnormality. Lidocaine should not be used in any clinical situation in which its penetration or migration beyond the tympanic membrane into the middle ear is possible.

Dermal application of lidocaine may cause transient local blanching followed by transient erythema.

PRECAUTIONS

General: Repeated doses of lidocaine may increase blood levels of lidocaine. Lidocaine should be used with caution in patients who may be more sensitive to the systemic effects of lidocaine including acutely ill, debilitated, or elderly patients.

Lidocaine coming in contact with the eye should be avoided because animal studies have demonstrated severe eye irritation. Also the loss of protective reflexes can permit corneal irritation and potential abrasion. Absorption of lidocaine in conjunctival tissues has not been determined. If eye contact occurs, immediately wash out the eye with water or saline and protect the eye until sensation returns.

Patients allergic to para-aminobenzoic acid derivatives (procaine, tetracaine, benzocaine, etc.) have not shown cross sensitivity to lidocaine; however, lidocaine should be used with caution in patients with a history of drug sensitivities, especially if the etiologic agent is uncertain. Patients with severe hepatic disease, because of their inability to metabolize local anaesthetics normally, are at greater risk of developing toxic plasma concentrations of lidocaine.

When lidocaine is used, the patient should be aware that the production of dermal analgesia may be accompanied by the block of all sensations in the treated skin. For this reason, the patient should avoid inadvertent trauma to the treated area by scratching, rubbing, or exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures until complete sensation has returned.

Lidocaine has bactericidal and antiviral properties in concentrations above 0.5%. For this reason, the results of intra-cutaneous injections of live vaccines (such as BCG vaccination) should be monitored.

Patients treated with Class III anti-arrhythmic drugs (e.g. amiodarone) should be carefully monitored and ECG monitoring considered as cardiac effects may be additive.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Lidocaine should be used with caution in patients receiving Class I anti- arrhythmic drugs (such as tocainide and mexiletine) since the toxic effects are additive and generally synergistic.

Drugs that reduce the clearance of lidocaine (eg cimetidine or betablockers such as propranolol) may cause potentially toxic plasma concentrations when lidocaine is given in repeated high doses over a long period of time. Such interactions should therefore be of no clinical importance following short term treatment with lidocaine (eg LMX4) at recommended doses.

The risk of additional systemic toxicity should be considered when large doses of LMX4 are applied to patients already using other local anaesthetics.

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, lidocaine should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Lidocaine is not contraindicated in labour and delivery. Should LMX4 be used concomitantly with other products containing lidocaine, total doses contributed by all formulations must be considered.

Lidocaine can cross the placental barrier.

Lidocaine is excreted in human milk. Therefore, caution should be exercised when LMX4 is administered to a nursing mother since the milk:plasma ratio of lidocaine is 0.4.

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

None known.

4.8. Undesirable effects

Common side effects (>1/100) can include irritation, redness, itching, or rash.

In rare cases local anaesthetics have been associated with allergic reactions including anaphylactic shock.

Corneal irritation after accidental eye exposure.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system:

Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

Overdose with LMX4 cream is unlikely but signs of systemic toxicity would be consistent with those of lidocaine.

An indication of systemic toxicity may include blurred vision, dizziness or drowsiness, difficulty breathing, trembling, chest pain, or irregular heartbeat.