Frequently Asked Questions

Xylocaine 5% Ointment is a local anaesthetic or ‘numbing cream’ that can be applied to your skin to help reduce the pain or discomfort caused by:

• Minor (superficial) burns
• Sunburn – where no blisters have formed
• Insect bites
• Sore or tender nipples.

Xylocaine 5% Ointment can also be used to help relieve the pain and discomfort of haemorrhoids (piles) and anal fissures (which are small tears or cracks that appear in the lining of your anus or rectum).

Your dentist may also sometimes use Xylocaine 5% Ointment. By using a topical anaesthetic, like Xylocaine 5% Ointment, your dentist can help make procedures such as deep scaling, injections or fitting new dentures a less painful experience.

All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not.

Xylocaine 5% Ointment will help to relieve pain and discomfort in most people, but it may have unwanted side-effects in some people.

Allergic reactions can occur if you are sensitive to either the anaesthetic lidocaine (lignocaine), or any of the other ingredients in the ointment. Allergic reactions to lidocaine are rare (<0.1%).

If you experience any side effects after using Xylocaine 5% Ointment – stop using it and consult to your healthcare professional as soon as possible.

Xylocaine® 5% Ointment can be used on children aged 2 years or older, but it is not recommended if your child is under 2 years of age.

Remember, when using Xylocaine 5% Ointment on children over 2 years:

• Apply only a thin layer to the affected area no more than 3 times a day (when necessary).
• At any one time, do not apply more than the recommended single dose of 0.1g ointment/kg bodyweight
• Do not apply more than 3 doses during any 24-hour period.

Always seek medical advice if you are pregnant, breastfeeding (or plan to be).

Always ask your doctor or pharmacist if Xylocaine 5% Ointment can be used while you are pregnant, during labour, during the delivery of your baby or while breastfeeding. They can advise on what is best for you.

If you are breastfeeding and using Xylocaine 5% Ointment to relieve the pain and discomfort of sore nipples, wash away all of the ointment before your baby feeds. Reapply afterwards if needed.

Xylocaine is safe for most people to use – but problems can occur if you have certain health conditions or are taking certain medications

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or dentist if you have any of the following health conditions as you may not be able to use Xylocaine 5% Ointment:

• Epilepsy
• Heart problems
• Liver problems
• Kidney problems
• An open wound or infection where you want to use the ointment
• Malignant hyperthermia or a family history of reactions to anaesthetics.

Certain medicines can interact with Xylocaine 5% Ointment, so let your doctor, pharmacist or dentist know what medications you are currently taking – including those you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some of the medicines that can interact with Xylocaine include:

• Medicines to treat an irregular heart beat (such as amiodarone and mexiletine)
• Antihypertensive medicines that help lower blood pressure (such as betablockers)
• Medicines used to treat epilepsy or fits (such as phenytoin, phenobarbitone, primidone or carbamazepine)
• Cimetidine (which is a medicine used to treat reflux and ulcers).

Always let your doctor, pharmacist or dentist know as soon as possible if you start feeling unwell while using Xylocaine 5% Ointment.

Lanolin-based products, such as Lansinoh, can help to soothe, heal and protect sore, cracked nipples.

Xylocaine 5% Ointment, on the other hand, has a completely different formula that contains a local anaesthetic – lidocaine (lignocaine). The anaesthetic’s numbing effect provides fast* and effective relief from the pain and discomfort caused by sore, tender nipples.

Haemorrhoid ointments can contain different types of active ingredients and are often recommended to be used in different ways.

For example, Proctosedyl ointment contains a local anaesthetic (cinchocaine) together with a steroid (hydrocortisone) to help reduce inflammation and swelling, numb pain and relieve itching. Proctosedyl should only be used for short-term symptom relief (not more than 7 days unless advised by your doctor) and is not recommended for children under the age of 12 years.¹

Anusol ointment does not contain a local anaesthetic or steroid; the active ingredients are zinc oxide, Peru balsam and benzyl benzoate to relieve itching, burning and soreness.²

Xylocaine 5% Ointment contains the active ingredient lidocaine (lignocaine) which is a local anaesthetic that provides fast* and effective relief from haemorrhoid pain and discomfort.³

Xylocaine should not be used for prolonged periods unless advised by your doctor and should not be used in children under 2 years of age. If the condition persists or worsens, discontinue use and seek medical advice.

1. Proctosedyl® (hydrocortisone 5mg, cinchocaine hydrochloride 5mg). Available at: https://proctosedyl.com.au/haemorrhoid-products/ointment/ (accessed 20/04/24).
2. AnusolTM. Anusol Ointment – Haemorrhoids Treatments and Pain Relief. Available at: http://www.anusol.com.au/Anusol-Ointment (accessed 20/04/24).
3. Xylocaine 5% Ointment Consumer Medicine Information. Aspen. 9 February 2018

*3-5 mins on mucous membranes

It is recommended you cover the affected area of skin with a sterile gauze pad after applying a thin layer of Xylocaine 5% Ointment.

Xylocaine 5% Ointment is not a burns treatment, but it can be used to provide temporary relief from the pain or discomfort caused by superficial or minor skin burns while they heal.

For more information on Xylocaine and burns see our ‘When to use’ section.

Your dentist may decide to use a topical anaesthetic, such as Xylocaine 5% Ointment, to help prevent the pain or discomfort caused by some dental procedures such as deep scaling, when giving you an injection, or when fitting your new dentures.

Remember, when using Xylocaine, it is important to always follow the instructions. If you think that you or anyone else may have used too much Xylocaine 5% Ointment or accidentally swallowed Xylocaine 5% Ointment – immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice or go immediately to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital.

It is important to do this even if there are no obvious visible signs of discomfort or poisoning.

If too much Xylocaine 5% Ointment has been used, the first signs you may notice include drowsiness, light headedness, dizziness and sometimes blurred vision.

In the event of a serious overdose, trembling, seizures or unconsciousness may occur.

Xylocaine 5% Ointment should not be applied to your eyes.

If any of the ointment accidently gets in your eyes, rinse them immediately with lots of water for at least 15 minutes and call your doctor.

Xylocaine 5% Ointment is designed to provide temporary relief of pain and itching from skin irritations such as minor burns, non-blistered sunburn, insect bites and sore nipples, as well as haemorrhoids (piles) and anal fissures.

Xylocaine 2% Jelly’s formulation is designed to provide rapid short-term numbing and lubrication required by certain medical tests and procedures.

Xylocaine 2% Jelly contains less active ingredient (lidocaine, also known as lignocaine) compared to Xylocaine 5% Ointment. The jelly contains 20 mg of lidocaine per gram and the ointment contains 50 mg of lidocaine per gram of jelly.

Xylocaine Jelly is not effective when applied to intact skin.