Emla 5g Numbing Cream for Injections & Blood Tests

Emla Cream is a numbing cream for easing the pain of needle procedures e.g. injections, vaccinations or blood tests.

Feature

Suitable if you plan to use Emla Cream occasionally and if you only need to numb a small area of skin (e.g. for immunisations or blood tests). A 5g tube is enough for two doses of Emla Cream. If you choose this pack, you will need to separately buy suitable occlusive dressings to cover the cream, so it penetrates the skin and does not get accidentally wiped off.

Warnings

Like all medicines, Emla Cream can cause side effects, but not everyone is affected. Stop using the cream and contact your doctor or pharmacist if any side effects bother you or do not seem to go away. Tell your doctor about anything else that makes you feel unwell while you are using Emla cream.
A mild reaction (paleness or redness of the skin, slight puffiness, initial burning or itching) may occur where Emla Cream is used. This is normal and will disappear in a short while.Emla Cream contains macrogolglycerol hydroxystearate. This may cause a skin reaction in people who are sensitive to it.
Avoid getting Emla in your eyes as it may irritate. If this happens, immediately rinse well with lukewarm water or salt solution and be careful to protect your eye until feeling returns.

Product Specification

Emla Cream contains active substances, called lidocaine and prilocaine. The other ingredients are macrogolglycerol hydroxystearate, carbomer 974P, sodium hydroxide and purified water.

Uses

Apply Emla Cream about one hour before the procedure. The cream should be applied as a thick layer to the area of skin where the needle is going to be inserted. Always cover Emla Cream with a water- and air-tight dressing known as an “occlusive” dressing, so the cream penetrates the skin and does not get wiped off.
Newborn infants and infants 0-2 months: Up to 1 g of cream on a skin area not larger than 10 cm2 (10 square centimetres) in size. Application time: 1 hour, not more. Only one single dose should be given in any 24 hour period. Infants aged 3-11 months: Up to 2 g of cream on a total skin area not larger than 20 cm2 (20 square centimetres) in size. Application time: approx 1 hour, maximum 4 hours. Children aged 1-5 years: Up to 10 g of cream on a total skin area not larger than 100 cm2 (100 square centimetres) in size. Application time: approx 1 hour, maximum 5 hours. Children aged 6-11 years: Up to 20 g of cream on a total skin area not larger than 200 cm2 (200 square centimetres) in size. Application time: approx 1 hour, maximum 5 hours.

Tips and Advice

It is important to apply Emla Cream about an hour in advance of the procedure and to cover it with a water- and air-tight dressing known as an “occlusive” dressing. Some packs come with dressings included but if you choose or are offered a pack that only contains a tube of cream, don’t forget to purchase suitable occlusive dressings, so the cream penetrates the skin and does not get wiped off.