Drug Card: Lidocaine

Medication Name

Lidocaine

Generic Name

Lidocaine

Trade Name

Xylocaine

Drug Classification

Antiarrhythmic / Local Anesthetic

Primary Use

Treats ventricular arrhythmias and provides local anesthesia.

Mechanism of Action

Blocks sodium channels in cardiac cell membranes, stabilizing them.

Absorption

Rapidly absorbed via IV; slower through other routes.

Distribution

Widely distributed; crosses the blood-brain barrier.

Metabolism

Primarily metabolized in the liver.

Excretion

Excreted in urine as metabolites; half-life is 1.5 to 2 hours.

Indications

Used for ventricular fibrillation (VF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Local Anesthesia

Administered in minor surgical procedures.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to lidocaine and severe heart block (without a pacemaker).

Side Effects

Drowsiness, confusion, hypotension, and rare cardiac arrest.

Dosage for VF/Pulseless VT

1 to 1.5 mg/kg IV bolus; repeat with 0.5 to 0.75 mg/kg every 5-10 minutes (max 3 mg/kg).

Maintenance Infusion

1-4 mg/min.

Precautions

Monitor for CNS toxicity and adjust doses in liver disease.

Drug Interactions

Increased CNS toxicity risk with other CNS depressants; caution with antiarrhythmics.