Intranasal lidocaine for headache
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Intranasal lidocaine for headache
Lidocaine is an anesthetic medicine that is most often used to numb an area of the body before a minor surgical procedure. Sometimes, a 4% lidocaine solution is used as nose drops to stop cluster headaches.
Lidocaine works to stop a cluster headache in about 3 out of 10 people who use it.1
The medicine is placed into the nostril on the same side as the headache. It can be repeated 15 minutes later, if needed.1 Side effects can include a burning sensation or numbness in the nose.
This medicine is available only by prescription. This medicine may be used to treat cluster headaches when other medicines have not helped.
References
Citations
Evans RW (2006). Headache. In DC Dale, DD Federman, eds., ACP Medicine, section 11, chap. 8. New York: WebMD.
Credits
| Author | Monica Rhodes |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology |
| Last Updated | April 11, 2008 |
| Last updated: | April 11, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Monica Rhodes |
| Reviewed By: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC |
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