Symptoms ranging from dizziness and blurred vision to paranoia, seizures, and slowed heart rate can occur.
In some cases, lidocaine overdose can be a life-threatening medical emergency.
The medication can be injected into tissues or absorbed through the skin with a patch.
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Lidocaine is commonly used to numb the mouth for dental procedures.
It can also be used as a pain reliever for certain medical conditions.
The inappropriate use or overuse of lidocaine dermal patches can also lead to an overdose.
This may increase the toxic dose to 7 mg/kg.
There is a blood test that can show the level of lidocaine in the blood.
Usually, just having symptoms after using lidocaine is enough for a provider to diagnose a lidocaine overdose.
However, lidocaine overdose from slower-acting administration of the drug, like dermal patches, is harder to diagnose.
Treatment for Lidocaine Overdose
Lidocaine overdose treatment depends on the symptoms you’re having.
To help reverse an overdose of lidocaine, emergency medications such as benzodiazepines and injectable lipids may be administered.
Patients with cardiac arrhythmias are at risk forcardiac arrest.
If it happens, they will need to be resuscitated using advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS).
In some cases, this process may take longer than usual.
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