Has anyone used the numbing cream before your child's immunizations?

[CJBaby]

If so, how well did it work and were there were there any adverse reactions?? Any details on how to use it or what happened with your child??

Thanks!

 

[aprilgail2]

I used it last month for my daughter when she had her blood work done for her yearly physical and it worked great. I got it from my friend who is a nurse, she uses on her kids for all their shots and has had no problems at all. I put it on her arm, put a transderm type bandage over it an hour prior to her appt.

 

[disneymama73]

I just used it today on my 6 yr old DD for her allergy tests. It worked great!

 

[CJBaby]

Thanks! Do you remember the name of what you both used? My dd is 4, and has FOUR shots scheduled for next week. Could she be too young for the cream?

And honestly I'm wondering why this cream isn't ever mentioned or suggested by pediatricians?

 

[aprilgail2]

it was something like Emla or something that looks/sounds like that

 

[disneymama73]

Thanks! Do you remember the name of what you both used? My dd is 4, and has FOUR shots scheduled for next week. Could she be too young for the cream?

And honestly I'm wondering why this cream isn't ever mentioned or suggested by pediatricians?

It is Emla cream. Not sure why it's never suggested. It is a Rx.

 

[Tikicampers]

The hospital put it on DS when he was having some bloodwork done. The nurse put it on when they started the sweat test, which doesn't hurt, and when she took all that stuff off (about 30 minutes later), she drew the blood, and he didn't even notice. Of course, he was screaming anyway because he didn't like it when she was taking all the tape off from the sweat test stuff, but the shots didn't hurt.

He hasn't had it since then, despite having had some vaccines, I don't know why I never think of it. It worked very well.

 

[meeskamouska]

I have never used cream on my DD, 4, and she has lots of blood work done due to her medical condition. I tell her that the shots will hurt. They will hurt bad for a few seconds...and then we count to five...that is how long it will hurt. She knows that it will be over quickly and she gets a treat. This works...she never gets scared becasue she is prepared. It has worked great even for getting blood taken!!

 

[1rockinmamato2]

Our pediatrician doesn't use EMLA cream for immunizations but DD had it on her ears when we pierced them. That stuff is wonderful!

 

[disneymama73]

Our pediatrician doesn't use EMLA cream for immunizations but DD had it on her ears when we pierced them. That stuff is wonderful!

Oh good thinking!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

If so, how well did it work and were there were there any adverse reactions?? Any details on how to use it or what happened with your child??

Thanks!

The topical pain reliever should be a lot safer than the vaccines themselves! I wouldn't worry about the numbing gel. I WOULD do a ton of research on the possible adverse vaccine reactions, however. Good luck!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, I have used it ALOT in the past with dd. She gets a daily shot for growth hormone and well, we did use cream for a good year I think.

Eventually I weaned her off it as it was not working any longer.

It takes awhile to work, like 30 mins or something like that.

Ask the doc for a script.

 

[barkley]

The hospital put it on DS when he was having some bloodwork done. The nurse put it on when they started the sweat test, which doesn't hurt, and when she took all that stuff off (about 30 minutes later), she drew the blood, and he didn't even notice. Of course, he was screaming anyway because he didn't like it when she was taking all the tape off from the sweat test stuff, but the shots didn't hurt.

He hasn't had it since then, despite having had some vaccines, I don't know why I never think of it. It worked very well.

is'nt that sweat test SO MUCH FUN??? NOT! i remember when ds had to have one and the med staff kept complaining that he was'nt perspiring enough-i'm like 'he's not even 6 months old-what do you suggest we do, put him into a warming oven or get him to take a spirited jog down the hallway?'

 

[MidgeD79]

I used it a few times for my oldest son. It is over the counter in Canada, medicaid will only pay for it if the patient is under 16, it has to be "pressed" into the skin for 30 minutes prior to the procedure. When getting bloodwork, it is hard to determine where a good vein will be found making it difficult to know where to put the Emla.

 

[jenimay]

how do you get the cream? Do you just ask a doctor for an rx. I want to get my 4 year old dd's ears pierced and she will need her kindergarden shots when she turns 5 and I'd like to try it. Thanks!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I used it a few times for my oldest son. It is over the counter in Canada, medicaid will only pay for it if the patient is under 16, it has to be "pressed" into the skin for 30 minutes prior to the procedure. When getting bloodwork, it is hard to determine where a good vein will be found making it difficult to know where to put the Emla.

Good point.
Also how will you know where the ped is going to do the immunizations?

I will say that my 10yodd was given some type of spray before bloodwork before. Not sure what it was.

My dd will pass out. However we do breathing techniques and visualization and that has helped.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Just a note, EMLA cream is not to be used in babies- something to do with clotting or something- can't remember exactly why.

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/emla_wcp.htm

Application of EMLA Cream to larger areas or for longer times than those recommended could result in sufficient absorption of lidocaine and prilocaine resulting in serious adverse effects (see Individualization of Dose).

Patients treated with class III anti-arrhythmic drugs (eg, amiodarone, bretylium, sotalol, dofetilide) should be under close surveillance and ECG monitoring considered, because cardiac effects may be additive.

Studies in laboratory animals (guinea pigs) have shown that EMLA Cream has an ototoxic effect when instilled into the middle ear. In these same studies, animals exposed to EMLA Cream only in the external auditory canal, showed no abnormality. EMLA Cream should not be used in any clinical situation when its penetration or migration beyond the tympanic membrane into the middle ear is possible.

Methemoglobinemia: EMLA Cream should not be used in those rare patients with congenital or idiopathic methemoglobinemia and in infants under the age of twelve months who are receiving treatment with methemoglobin-inducing agents.

Very young patients or patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiencies are more susceptible to methemoglobinemia.

Patients taking drugs associated with drug-induced methemoglobinemia such as sulfonamides, acetaminophen, acetanilid, aniline dyes, benzocaine, chloroquine, dapsone, naphthalene, nitrates and nitrites, nitrofurantoin, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, pamaquine, para-aminosalicylic acid, phenacetin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primaquine, quinine, are also at greater risk for developing methemoglobinemia.

There have been reports of significant methemoglobinemia (20-30%) in infants and children following excessive applications of EMLA Cream. These cases involved the use of large doses, larger than recommended areas of application, or infants under the age of 3 months who did not have fully mature enzyme systems. In addition, a few of these cases involved the concomitant administration of methemoglobin-inducing agents. Most patients recovered spontaneously after removal of the cream. Treatment with IV methylene blue may be effective if required.

Physicians are cautioned to make sure that parents or other caregivers understand the need for careful application of EMLA Cream, to ensure that the doses and areas of application recommended in Table 2 are not exceeded (especially in children under the age of 3 months) and to limit the period of application to the minimum required to achieve the desired anesthesia.

Neonates and infants up to 3 months of age should be monitored for Met-Hb levels before, during, and after the application of EMLA Cream, provided the test results can be obtained quickly.

 

[Pooh Crew]

I use Emla cream on my 6 yr old son several times a week because we have to insert an infusion set (tube on a needle that goes under his skin) for his insulin pump. I put a quarter sized patch of it on him and cover it with a square the Glad press and seal wrap. He is numb after about 30 minutes (although I have heard that some kids take up to an hour) and I wipe it off with an alcohol swab. There is usually a slightly red patch where the cream was.

One other thing to note: I have also heard that Emla can cause the veins to contract, so it might not be good for blood draws.

 

[Tikicampers]

is'nt that sweat test SO MUCH FUN??? NOT! i remember when ds had to have one and the med staff kept complaining that he was'nt perspiring enough-i'm like 'he's not even 6 months old-what do you suggest we do, put him into a warming oven or get him to take a spirited jog down the hallway?'

Thankfully, DS was walking by the time he had to do it, we dressed him in a ton of clothes and then let him play with a ball in the waiting room. However, everything was taped to him, and he screamed when she took it off. I remember they told me if they didn't get enough sweat, we'd have to reschedule and do it again, and there was no way I could have gone through it twice.

 

[YourMajesty]

Just a note, EMLA cream is not to be used in babies- something to do with clotting or something- can't remember exactly why.

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/emla_wcp.htm

Application of EMLA Cream to larger areas or for longer times than those recommended could result in sufficient absorption of lidocaine and prilocaine resulting in serious adverse effects (see Individualization of Dose).

Patients treated with class III anti-arrhythmic drugs (eg, amiodarone, bretylium, sotalol, dofetilide) should be under close surveillance and ECG monitoring considered, because cardiac effects may be additive.

Studies in laboratory animals (guinea pigs) have shown that EMLA Cream has an ototoxic effect when instilled into the middle ear. In these same studies, animals exposed to EMLA Cream only in the external auditory canal, showed no abnormality. EMLA Cream should not be used in any clinical situation when its penetration or migration beyond the tympanic membrane into the middle ear is possible.

Methemoglobinemia: EMLA Cream should not be used in those rare patients with congenital or idiopathic methemoglobinemia and in infants under the age of twelve months who are receiving treatment with methemoglobin-inducing agents.

Very young patients or patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiencies are more susceptible to methemoglobinemia.

Patients taking drugs associated with drug-induced methemoglobinemia such as sulfonamides, acetaminophen, acetanilid, aniline dyes, benzocaine, chloroquine, dapsone, naphthalene, nitrates and nitrites, nitrofurantoin, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, pamaquine, para-aminosalicylic acid, phenacetin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primaquine, quinine, are also at greater risk for developing methemoglobinemia.

There have been reports of significant methemoglobinemia (20-30%) in infants and children following excessive applications of EMLA Cream. These cases involved the use of large doses, larger than recommended areas of application, or infants under the age of 3 months who did not have fully mature enzyme systems. In addition, a few of these cases involved the concomitant administration of methemoglobin-inducing agents. Most patients recovered spontaneously after removal of the cream. Treatment with IV methylene blue may be effective if required.

Physicians are cautioned to make sure that parents or other caregivers understand the need for careful application of EMLA Cream, to ensure that the doses and areas of application recommended in Table 2 are not exceeded (especially in children under the age of 3 months) and to limit the period of application to the minimum required to achieve the desired anesthesia.

Neonates and infants up to 3 months of age should be monitored for Met-Hb levels before, during, and after the application of EMLA Cream, provided the test results can be obtained quickly.

My DS, when he was just over two, ended up in the ER for a methemoglobinenia test after we used Emla cream for allergy testing. The test was slightly elevated but he was fine. At the allergy clinic he was greyish and very sleepy. No fun...he can't use it anymore.