title: Clinical study of a lignocaine-prilocaine cream to relieve the pain of venepuncture.
abstract: The efficacy of a topical anaesthetic formulation, EMLA 5% cream (Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics) in obtunding the pain produced by venepuncture, was determined in a double-blind randomized, cross-over study in 31 adult volunteers. Pain was registered on a 10-cm visual analogue scale. In each subject the mean pain score after treatment with EMLA was compared with that following placebo. Twenty-eight subjects had lower pain scores with EMLA, and in the remaining three subjects EMLA and placebo were equi-effective. Transient skin reactions (blanching, erythema and oedema) were observed with both formulations. These reactions were not found to be aggravated by repeated applications.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D011318:Prilocaine; D008012:Lidocaine