Anesthetic Agent

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• QWhat are benzodiazepine drugs?

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  A Dr. John Preston, PsyD , Psychology, answered

  Benzodiazepines are a class of anti-anxiety drugs also commonly referred
  to as minor tranquilizers. Benzodiazepines are used to treat acute anxiety, agitation, and insomnia during episodes of mania. They are also used to treat anxiety disorders (such as panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder). In the treatment of mania, benzodiazepines are generally used only for the first few days of treatment, to reduce agitation; ideally, these drugs are not used beyond a few weeks. These drugs take effect within thirty to sixty minutes.

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• QCan benzodiazepines treat children with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

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  A World Federation For Mental Health (WFMH) answered

  Benzodiazepines, a class of medications commonly used to treat adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), may also be prescribed for children and adolescents. However, as in adults, benzodiazepines should only be used for short time periods, and in conjunction with therapy, due to their highly addictive nature.
   
• QWhat are the side effects of benzocaine for premature ejaculation?

  1 Answer

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  A Dr. Madeleine M. Castellanos, MD , Psychiatry, answered on behalf of Good In Bed

  Some people may be allergic to benzocaine or other inactive ingredients in these products. And overuse of benzocaine has been linked to a higher risk of acquired methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder that can trigger headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, and a bluish tinge to the skin.
• QWhat is the lidocaine patch for pain?

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  A Dr. Juan P. Villablanca, MD , Neuroradiology, answered on behalf of UCLA Health

  The lidocaine patch for pain is a patch that contains an anesthetic medicine that slowly enters your body when the patch is applied directly to your skin. It is the most common type of pain patch. As your skin absorbs the lidocaine, the medicine numbs the area and decreases pain. If the pain is coming from deep inside your body, the lidocaine patch may not be as effective as an anesthetic medicine that is injected right into the problem area.
• QWhat is an anesthetic?

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  A Piedmont Heart Institute answered

  An anesthetic is a drug or other substance that causes a loss of feeling or awareness. Local anesthetics cause a loss of feeling in one small area of the body. Regional anesthetics cause a loss of feeling in a part of the body, such as an arm or leg. General anesthetics cause a loss of feeling and a complete loss of awareness that feels like a very deep sleep.

  This answer is based on source information from The National Cancer Institute.

• QWhat are the side effects of Lidoderm?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Lidoderm's most common side effects include numbness and possible irritation or redness in the area where it is applied. You may see spots of various color and your skin may become flaky, bruised or pimply, and you may develop a fluid-filled cyst or a burning sensation. There are also more serious side effects of Lidoderm that indicate a problem. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these side effects: respiration problems, hives or swelling in your face and throat. These could indicate an allergic reaction to the medication. Also, contact your doctor if you experience blurry vision, seizures or convulsions, irregular heartbeat or excessive drowsiness and confusion.

• QWhat should I know about Lidoderm before applying it?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  You should speak with your doctor before using Lidoderm if you have allergies to any medications, broken or swollen skin anywhere near the site of application, liver disease, heart block or shock. If you overdose on Lidoderm, which can happen if you absorb too much lidocaine into your blood through open cuts, or if you use too much, it can affect your heartbeat, breathing and cause seizures. If you experience any of these, contact your doctor immediately. You should not take Lidoderm while you are breastfeeding, and you should avoid mixing it with any cosmetic products once it is applied.

• QWhat is Lidoderm?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Lidoderm, the brand name for lidocaine patch, is applied to the skin once a day as needed for pain. It works by blocking your nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. Lidoderm is in a class of medications called topical local anesthetics. Topical means you apply it to your skin, and local means that it only affects the area where it is applied (as opposed to general anesthetics, which induce unconsciousness). Lidoderm is specifically intended to relieve pain after shingles infections, but you should not apply it to skin with open cuts or blisters.

• QAre there any risks in taking Lidoderm?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Lidoderm has very serious risks if you have an allergic reaction to any of its ingredients or if you absorb too much of the medication into your blood. This is more likely if you apply Lidoderm to broken skin or cuts, in amounts larger than necessary, or if you apply heat, a bandage or a wrap over the medication. Never ingest or consume Lidoderm, and use caution if you apply it anywhere near your face or mouth. Used improperly, a Lidoderm overdose could result in seizures, confusion, heartbeat irregularity, respiratory failure or even death.