UMEM Educational Pearls

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Title: Topical Lidocaine for Local Anesthesia

Category: Toxicology

Keywords: Lidocaine, pediatrics, anesthesia (PubMed Search)

Posted: 9/4/2008 by Ellen Lemkin, MD, PharmD (Updated: 7/22/2026)

Topical Lidocaine for local anesthesia

Zingo® (lidocaine 0.5 mg powder) is a new product designed to reduce pain with IV access
Onset of action 1-3 minutes (compared with 30 minutes with lidocaine/prilocaine creams (EMLA®), liposomal lidocaine 4% (LMX®), or lidocaine/tetracaine patches (Synera®)
Duration of action is only 10 minutes (procedure must be done in 10 minutes)
Uses helium to forcefully deliver drug into the skin
Looks like a marker that you press down and you hear a loud pop
Cost $20 per dose
Approved for children 3-18 years of age

Disclosure: I have no financial or invested interest in the product or the company.

1. Pharmacist's Letter 2008 24(9):240912

2. Cregin R. Improving pain management for pediatric patients undergoing nonurgent painful procedures. ASHSP April 15 2008;Vol 65(8):723-7.

3. Kaweski S. Topical Anesthetic Creams. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. June 2008; Vol 121(6):2161-5.