Gargling Lidocaine?

SkyHog

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So - I have H1N1, and for my sore throat, I was prescribed Viscous Lidocaine. I was told to gargle it.

Yeah, that's not gonna happen, its too thick and I gag when it even gets close to my throat. Any doctor types have an idea for how to successfully gargle it? I know I'm not supposed to mix water with it.
 
Nick one word of caution. Don't eat after you take that stuff. When I took it my throat totally went numb. my swallowing was all screwed up, Dont want you choking.
 
Hog, here's a couple ideas for you.

There's no danger for swallow low concentrations of viscous lidocaine. That is standard treatment of upper GI pain, with dosages of 5-15 milliliters (or 100-300 milligrams) six times daily.

1) Try swallowing a little bit to kill off the gag reflex, then try gargling a bit. If you need to, dilute a little bit of lidocaine prior to drinking a few milliliters. If that doesn't work, try using some over-the-counter Chloroseptic spray to kill the gag reflex.

2) If that doesn't work, mix a little lidocaine into some Maalox. In the ER that's called a "GI Cocktail". Hopefully that will kill your gag reflex enough to be be able to gargle.
 
I have a bad gag reflex and used that for putting in dentures. Mix a little water in it and stir, swish some around your mouth and wait a few minutes, then try further back in your mouth and throat....just getting a little in your throat will help for the next swig.

Don't forget a drool bucket or dropcloth
 
The other thought (and not from an MD mind you) is the lidocaine is an anesthetic, and is there to make you feel better but won't do anything about the virus (at least nothing I can imagine). If the cure is that bad don't take it.
 
I had best luck with hourly gargling of warm water and a pinch of salt.
Ice cream helps you and your throat feel better, too!
Also, Halls are a mainstay for my chronically bad throat.
 
I could use some of that. Got a bad case of tonsillitis right now, and of course the antibiotics aren't doing anything to help with the pain.
 
So - I have H1N1, and for my sore throat, I was prescribed Viscous Lidocaine. I was told to gargle it.

Yeah, that's not gonna happen, its too thick and I gag when it even gets close to my throat. Any doctor types have an idea for how to successfully gargle it? I know I'm not supposed to mix water with it.

Get a long swab and apply it that way. Not fun but at least I kept my lunch down.
 
I don't think these doctors have ever tried to gargle this lidocaine solution. It is so thick and my gag reflex kicks in. This is the worst tasting medicine. I'm trying to use it because I have strep.
 
I don't think these doctors have ever tried to gargle this lidocaine solution. It is so thick and my gag reflex kicks in. This is the worst tasting medicine. I'm trying to use it because I have strep.

Have you tried good old fashioned aspirin? I had strep once and participated in a trial to test a new painkiller. After a few hours of scoring "no relief" on my log sheet, I called the people in charge and told them I was pretty sure I got the placebo and I wanted to end it and take something real. I had on hand acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and Bayer aspirin. I was in so much pain. I asked them, "Tell me straight up which of these three will work the best?" They said, "Take the aspirin." I did and it worked.
 
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