Introduction

Name

• Lidocaine.

Class of drug

• Amide-linked local anesthetic.
• Class 1B antidysrhythmic.

Uses

Indications

• Drug of choice for treating acute ventricular dysrhythmias Heart: dysrhythmia.
• Used predominantly as a local anesthetic.
• Not advisable for the provision of intra-operative and post-operative analgesia by continuous rate infusion intravenously due to the risk of cardiovacular depression.

Administration

Precautions

Interactions

with other drugs

Cimetidine

• May increase serum lidocaine levels or its effects if administered concurrently.

Propranolol

• May increase serum lidocaine levels or its effects if administered concurrently.

Procainamide

• May cause additive CNS effects.

Other anti-dysrhythmics

• May cause increased myocardial depression.

Acetazolamide, loop diuretics and thiazides

• The effect of lidocaine may be antagonized by hypokalemia with the above drugs.

Suxamethonium

• Large doses of lidocaine may prolong suxamethonium-induced apnea.

Adverse Reactions

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Vieitez V, Gómez de Segura I Á, Martin-Cuervo M, Gracia L A, Ezquerra L J (2017) Successful use of lipid emulsion to resuscitate a foal after intravenous lidocaine induced cardiovascular collapse. Equine Vet J 49 (6), 767-769 PubMed.
• Cassutto B H & Gfeller R W (2003) Use of intravenous lidocaine to prevent reperfusion injury and subsequent multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 13 (3), 137.
• Jones R S (2001) Epidural analgesia in the dog and cat. Vet J 161 (2), 123-131.
• Lemke K A & Dawson S D (2000) Local and regional anesthesia. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 30 (4), 839-857.

Other sources of information

• Based on Small Animal Formulary. Tennant B (1999) 3rd edn. BSAVA, UK.
• Plumb D C (1999) Veterinary Drug Handbook. 3rd edn. Iowa State University Press, USA. pp 379-381.