Systemic: Adverse experiences following the administration of lidocaine are similar in nature to those observed with other amide local anesthetic agents. These adverse experiences are, in general, dose-related and may result from high plasma levels caused by excessive dosage, rapid absorption or inadvertent intravascular injection, or may result from a hypersensitivity, idiosyncrasy or diminished tolerance on the part of the patient. Serious adverse experiences are generally systemic in nature. The following types are those most commonly reported:
Central Nervous System: CNS manifestations are excitatory and/or depressant and may be characterized by lightheadedness, nervousness, apprehension, euphoria, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, tinnitus, blurred or double vision, vomiting, sensations of heat, cold or numbness, twitching, tremors, convulsions, unconsciousness, respiratory depression and arrest. The excitatory manifestations may be very brief or may not occur at all, in which case the first manifestation of toxicity may be drowsiness merging into unconsciousness and respiratory arrest.
Drowsiness following the administration of lidocaine is usually an early sign of a high blood level of the drug and may occur as a consequence of rapid absorption.
Cardiovascular System: Cardiovascular manifestations are usually depressant and are characterized by bradycardia, hypotension, and cardiovascular collapse, which may lead to cardiac arrest.
Allergic: Allergic reactions are characterized by cutaneous lesions, urticaria, edema or anaphylactoid reactions. Allergic reactions may occur as a result of sensitivity either to local anesthetic agents or to the methylparaben used as a preservative in multiple dose vials. Allergic reactions as a result of sensitivity to lidocaine are extremely rare and, if they occur, should be managed by conventional means. The detection of sensitivity by skin testing is of doubtful value.
Neurologic: The incidences of adverse reactions associated with the use of local anesthetics may be related to the total dose of local anesthetic administered and are also dependent upon the particular drug used, the route of administration and the physical status of the patient. In a prospective review of 10,440 patients who received lidocaine for spinal anesthesia, the incidences of adverse reactions were reported to be about 3 percent each for positional headaches, hypotension and backache; 2 percent for shivering; and less than 1 percent each for peripheral nerve symptoms, nausea, respiratory inadequacy and double vision. Many of these observations may be related to local anesthetic techniques, with or without a contribution from the local anesthetic.
In the practice of caudal or lumbar epidural block, occasional unintentional penetration of the subarachnoid space by the catheter may occur. Subsequent adverse effects may depend partially on the amount of drug administered subdurally.
These may include spinal block of varying magnitude (including total spinal block), hypotension secondary to spinal block, loss of bladder and bowel control, and loss of perineal sensation and sexual function. Persistent motor, sensory and/or autonomic (sphincter control) deficit of some lower spinal segments with slow recovery (several months) or incomplete recovery have been reported in rare instances when caudal or lumbar epidural block has been attempted. Backache and headache have also been noted following use of these anesthetic procedures.
There have been reported cases of permanent injury to extraocular muscles requiring surgical repair following retrobulbar administration.
(listed alphabetically under each subsection)
The following adverse reactions may be associated with corticosteroid
therapy:
Allergic reactions: Anaphylaxis including death, angioedema.
Cardiovascular: Bradycardia, cardiac arrest, cardiac
arrhythmias, cardiac enlargement, circulatory collapse, congestive heart failure,
fat embolism, hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in premature infants,
myocardial rupture following recent myocardial infarction (see WARNINGS), pulmonary edema, syncope, tachycardia,
thromboembolism, thrombophlebitis, vasculitis.
Dermatologic: Acne, allergic dermatitis, cutaneous
and subcutaneous atrophy, dry scaly skin, ecchymoses and petechiae, edema,
erythema, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, impaired wound healing, increased
sweating, lupus erythematosus-like lesions, purpura, rash, sterile abscess,
striae, suppressed reactions to skin tests, thin fragile skin, thinning scalp
hair, urticaria.
Endocrine: Decreased carbohydrate and glucose
tolerance, development of cushingoid state, glycosuria, hirsutism, hypertrichosis,
increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetes,
manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus, menstrual irregularities, secondary
adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness (particularly in times of stress,
as in trauma, surgery, or illness), suppression of growth in pediatric patients.
Fluid and electrolyte disturbances: Congestive
heart failure in susceptible patients, fluid retention, hypokalemic alkalosis,
potassium loss, sodium retention.
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal distention, bowel/bladder
dysfunction (after intrathecal administration [see WARNINGS: Neurologic]), elevation in serum liver enzyme
levels (usually reversible upon discontinuation), hepatomegaly, increased
appetite, nausea, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer with possible perforation and
hemorrhage, perforation of the small and large intestine (particularly in
patients with inflammatory bowel disease), ulcerative esophagitis.
Metabolic: Negative nitrogen balance due to protein
catabolism.
Musculoskeletal: Aseptic necrosis of femoral and
humeral heads, calcinosis (following intra-articular or intralesional use),
Charcot-like arthropathy, loss of muscle mass, muscle weakness, osteoporosis,
pathologic fracture of long bones, post injection flare (following intra-articular
use), steroid myopathy, tendon rupture, vertebral compression fractures.
Neurologic/Psychiatric: Convulsions, depression,
emotional instability, euphoria, headache, increased intracranial pressure
with papilledema (pseudotumor cerebri) usually following discontinuation of
treatment, insomnia, mood swings, neuritis, neuropathy, paresthesia, personality
changes, psychiatric disorders, vertigo. Arachnoiditis, meningitis, paraparesis/paraplegia,
and sensory disturbances have occurred after intrathecal administration. Spinal cord infarction, paraplegia, quadriplegia, cortical blindness, and stroke (including brainstem) have been reported after epidural administration of corticosteroids (see WARNINGS: Neurologic).
Ophthalmic: Exophthalmos, glaucoma, increased
intraocular pressure, posterior subcapsular cataracts, rare instances of blindness
associated with periocular injections.
Other: Abnormal fat deposits, decreased resistance
to infection, hiccups, increased or decreased motility and number of spermatozoa,
malaise, moon face, weight gain.