Lidocaine throat lozenges: what precautions apply to food and drinks?

To have a throat lozenge checked, show its box to the pharmacist. STREPSILS LIDOCAINE, lozenges, contains a local anaesthetic, lidocaine, and two antiseptics. The cited guidance concerns this composition, intended for adults and children over 12; not all lozenges have the same ingredients.

The numbing effect in the throat can increase the risk of food going down the wrong way when swallowing. The leaflet describes coughing during a meal with that sensation. This precaution concerns the medicine’s local effect on swallowing and should be explained before use.

The leaflet says not to use this lozenge before meals or before having a drink. Its administration instructions also say to take it away from meals. Ask for this instruction to be explained using your leaflet; these documents do not give a waiting interval in minutes to invent.

Report current or previous asthma or bronchospasm. The product information does not recommend this presentation in these situations and contraindicates it where there is a history or suspicion of methaemoglobinaemia. The leaflet advises against use during pregnancy and in women who could become pregnant and are not using contraception; it prohibits use while breastfeeding.

Also show any other products used for the throat or mouth. The leaflet says not to combine other medicines containing lidocaine, amylmetacresol or 2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol. Having the ingredients compared avoids assuming that two different boxes mean two compositions without overlapping ingredients.

If you cough during a meal and feel that food has gone down the wrong way, the leaflet advises stopping treatment and asking a doctor for advice. Also consult for fever, purulent sputum, difficulty swallowing or worsening, and if there is no improvement after three days. Prolonged use beyond five days is not desirable; this limit does not justify waiting when there is difficulty.