Synera

Synera is used to numb the skin before certain painful medical procedures. It is a local anesthetic drug. It works by blocking the nerves to send pain signals to the brain.

It does not cause unconsciousness. It is available in the form of patch, extended release, cream and only with doctor’s prescription

If you are about to start Synera, speak with your doctor about what you need to know.

Before starting, your doctor should be informed about following condition such as:

Allergy: Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to food, preservatives, dyes and animal or had any previous allergic reaction which occurred while using this drug before.

Children: There are no adequate studies done which prove Lidocaine and Tetracaine harmful effects in children. Safety and efficacy have not been established. It should not be used in children less than 3-year-old.

Elderly: They are more sensitive to its effects. In elderly patients, it should be used with caution.

Pregnancy: It is a category B drug. Studies show no harmful effects on an unborn baby. Discuss Lidocaine and Tetracaine benefits and potential risk factor with your doctor while using it in pregnancy.

Breast Feeding: Lidocaine and Tetracaine are found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Lidocaine and Tetracaine, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Drug Interactions: Lidocaine and Tetracaine interact with many drugs. It should not be used with several drugs.

Your doctor should be informed of any other medicine which you are taking as he/she may change the dosage or drug.

Some of these drugs are listed below:

• Antiarrhythmics (Amiodarone, Dofetilide, Mexiletine, Tocainide).
• Beta-Blockers (Propranolol).
• Cimetidine.
• Acetaminophen.
• Succinylcholine as the risk of its side effects may be increased by Lidocaine and Tetracaine.

Other Medical Problems: Several other conditions may reduce its effectiveness.

Make sure you inform your doctor of conditions such as:

• If you have liver problem or pseudocholinesterase deficiency.
• If you have been very ill or very poor health.
• If you have large sores, broken skin or severe injury at the area of application. Use it with caution.

Proper usage of Synera requires strict adherence to your doctor’s orders. The Synera patch is applied at your doctor’s office or clinic. It is usually applied for 25 to 30 minutes before the certain medical procedure.

It should be applied immediately after opening the pouch. Press firmly around the edges of the patch to be sure it sticks properly. Synera should be applied on a normal, unbroken skin.

Do not damage patch in any way as it may cause the patch to overheat and cause skin damage. The patch may not work properly if you cover the holes on the top side of the patch. After using Synera, discard the patch out of reach of children.

In using Synera, you must be careful and take some precautions as advised by your doctor. Synera block pain. You should be careful not to injure the treated skin by rubbing, scratching, exposing it to extreme cold or heat

It may infrequently cause drowsiness or dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use it with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.

Synera may cause severe allergic reaction which can be life-threatening. Inform your doctor immediately if you start having a rash, itching, fainting, palpitation, swelling of hand face, mouth.

Before getting any medical, surgical or dental care by your doctor, you should inform them that you are using Lidocaine and Tetracaine.

Make sure you meet with your doctor in using Synera to avoid unwanted potential side effects. Some people may experience none or minor side effects.

Consult with your doctor if they become problematic or frequent:

More common are:

• Flushing or redness of the skin.
• Swelling.
• Unusually warm skin.

Less common:

• Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin.
• Change in the color of treated skin.
• Itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin.
• Rash.

Symptoms of overdose:

• Change in consciousness.
• Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse.
• No blood pressure or pulse.
• Stopping of heart.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1 800 FDA 1088.