Overuse of Numbing Creams Can Kill You

Have you ever used a cream to numb pain? These are typically applied following cosmetic surgery treatments. anything like, say, laser hair removal. You can use cream with a topical anesthetic in it as part of the aftercare to alleviate pain after the procedure. If you have a variety of injuries, you can use similar creams rather than using medications to manage the pain, especially if the injury is only a skin wound of some sort.

But it turns out that if these creams for pain relief are used excessively, they might possibly be fatal. After having their legs treated with laser hair removal in 2007, at least two persons passed away from overuse of numbing creams.

These creams contain medications such as lidocaine, benzocaine, and others, and if the dosages are excessively high, too much of the medication may be absorbed into the bloodstream. Even when using them as prescribed by a doctor, this can result in abnormal heartbeats, coma, as well as death.

The FDA has issued a warning that even while many of these lotions are recommended by doctors, there are over-the-counter equivalents that must be used according to instructions and should always be discussed with a doctor before using.