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

[CJBaby]

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.

So the sleepiness and greyishness were side-effects from the cream? How long after application did you notice them and what did the doctor say about it?

Thanks!

 

[KristineN]

I have used if a few time on my kids....the thing is, often times, it is not the needle that hurts per se, but depending on what's in the syringe. Certain fluids sting more than others..so the emla does not get rid of that pain. For us, it became more trouble than it was worth.

 

[frndofpooh]

We used it on DS during his allergy injections - they really stung, a lot more than his vaccines ever did. After a while, though (6 mos. or so) it stopped working and we did not use it.

When I worked as a nurse in an immunization clinic, our docs generally did not want to use EMLA for intramuscular vaccinations as the cream only numbed the skin, not the muscle below and the pain came from the muscle after the injection. There thought was that it was not going to help enough with the pain to be of use, so why do it. When giving an MMR, however, which is given subcutaneously, they would prescribe it if a parent asked for it. Again, most of the pain from that immunization originates in the skin so EMLA was helpful.

Also, many doctors felt that applying the EMLA began the process of anxiety for the kids and they would be overall more anxious having to think about the injection for 30 minutes than they would be if you just prepared them a couple of minutes before the vaccination was to occur.

Hope this helps!

 

[YourMajesty]

So the sleepiness and greyishness were side-effects from the cream? How long after application did you notice them and what did the doctor say about it?

Thanks!

CJBaby...I would say whithin 1.5 hours he was alseep. While they were taking it off he woke up and he was cold, clamy, and his color was not so good. The Dr checked his blood pressure and other vitals and they decided to procede on with the allergy testing(forearm area). He sleep through most of the testing and then they decided to send him to the emergency room. He did have a lot on him...his forearms(just the inside area) and upper arms. They actually never finished testing him because he was so sleepy(never did the upper arm testing).

Also, many doctors felt that applying the EMLA began the process of anxiety for the kids and they would be overall more anxious having to think about the injection for 30 minutes than they would be if you just prepared them a couple of minutes before the vaccination was to occur.

Hope this helps!

Going on my mom feeling...it think it contributed to my DS's reaction greatly...he was petrified of having Emla cream all over his arms and wrapped in saran wrap. He was only two. Just a little side note. For allergy testing I would go for the blood work when they are little...it's just one stick. When the kids get older (5-6ish) the skin prick test on the forearms are not too bad. Now the upper arms is another story...it's a deeper stick.

Of course I think the poster just ask about Emla for immunizations...this would be a much smaller area. All in all reactions are just a risk to any meds. Usually I don't give them a second thought...it was wierd reading about the warning someone posted and thinking...hey that was my kid?

 

[CJBaby]

We used it on DS during his allergy injections - they really stung, a lot more than his vaccines ever did. After a while, though (6 mos. or so) it stopped working and we did not use it.

When I worked as a nurse in an immunization clinic, our docs generally did not want to use EMLA for intramuscular vaccinations as the cream only numbed the skin, not the muscle below and the pain came from the muscle after the injection. There thought was that it was not going to help enough with the pain to be of use, so why do it. When giving an MMR, however, which is given subcutaneously, they would prescribe it if a parent asked for it. Again, most of the pain from that immunization originates in the skin so EMLA was helpful.

Also, many doctors felt that applying the EMLA began the process of anxiety for the kids and they would be overall more anxious having to think about the injection for 30 minutes than they would be if you just prepared them a couple of minutes before the vaccination was to occur.

Hope this helps!

It's really nice to have a professional perspective, so thank you!

I read that one of the 4 year old shots is MMR, so I'm calling my pediatrician today!

 

[CJBaby]

CJBaby...I would say whithin 1.5 hours he was alseep. While they were taking it off he woke up and he was cold, clamy, and his color was not so good. The Dr checked his blood pressure and other vitals and they decided to procede on with the allergy testing(forearm area). He sleep through most of the testing and then they decided to send him to the emergency room. He did have a lot on him...his forearms(just the inside area) and upper arms. They actually never finished testing him because he was so sleepy(never did the upper arm testing).

That sounds so scary! Sorry that happened to you!

 

[mickeysaver]

The reason why pediatricians don't suggest Emla before shots is that the needle goes beyond the depth that the cream will numb. Allergy testing and blood draws don't go beyond the tissue depth that is numbed, so it can be very helpful to use before those procedures.

We have had parents request Emla despite being told the above information. Most of them said that it was worth it to them to try it, even though it failed.

I have seen it tried on a lot of kids in the past 13 years before vaccines and it never works. Maggie

 

[CJBaby]

The reason why pediatricians don't suggest Emla before shots is that the needle goes beyond the depth that the cream will numb. Allergy testing and blood draws don't go beyond the tissue depth that is numbed, so it can be very helpful to use before those procedures.

We have had parents request Emla despite being told the above information. Most of them said that it was worth it to them to try it, even though it failed.

I have seen it tried on a lot of kids in the past 13 years before vaccines and it never works. Maggie

Do you agree with one of the posters that it helps with the MMR vaccine, though?

 

[summerrluvv]

Do you agree with one of the posters that it helps with the MMR vaccine, though?

..but they typically get all the vaccines at once, so really, in the grand scheme of things 2 will hurt (or 3 or whatever) and 1 won't. Is it really worth the trouble? Probably not.

 

[laurie31]

I used it on both my girls for all their immunizations. I think it was worth it. I've also used it on myself, for tetanus boosters and for blood work. I will not have blood work without it, in fact. I'm a big chicken. With EMLA, I feel nothing. And I also have less post-immunization pain from tetanus. Maybe it's mental, but it works for me

I would absoultely use it for MMR!

I was under the impression that it was safe for children over the age of 1 month.

Quote from RxMed:

Intact Skin: Local analgesia of intact skin is achieved after 60 minutes' application under an occlusive dressing. The analgesic efficacy and the depth of skin analgesia have been shown to increase with application times up to 120 minutes. The duration of analgesia after a 1- to 2-hour application is at least 2 hours. After a longer application time than 5 hours, the analgesia will decrease.

The depth of analgesia, as measured by the insertion of a needle through the skin, is about 3 mm after a 60-minute application, about 4 mm after a 90-minute application and about 5 mm after a 120-minute application.

Both the analgesic efficacy and depth continue to increase after the removal of the cream from the skin surface, i.e., after a 60-minute application time to the dorsum of the hand, the analgesic efficacy continued to increase for 15 minutes, and persisted for a total of 75 minutes after removal of the cream.
____________________________________________

Also, although anyone can experience side effects from any medication, the ore severe effects were from "excessive application" so you shouldn't have to worry about that


Another thing that helps some kids is blowing bubbles. You can take some "wedding sized" bubbles with you and have her blow bubbles. This helps by distraction and also there's something about blowing out that helps with pain control. If you forget/don't have bubbles, tell her to pretend she's blowing out her birthday candles.

Finally...and this is my own personal preference...I never liked the idea of my kids getting more than two shots at once. I spread them out over their 4, 5, and 6 year check-ups. I've had other moms say they want to "get it over with" so that's up to you and what you think is best for your child. Mine did fine with two but I'm not sure more than that would have gone over. (and a year is a LONG time to a little kid - it didn't make her fearful to go back)


Good luck!!

 

[aprilgail2]

..but they typically get all the vaccines at once, so really, in the grand scheme of things 2 will hurt (or 3 or whatever) and 1 won't. Is it really worth the trouble? Probably not.

I never ever let them give my daughter more than one shot at a time. I would rather go back monthly for the first year (which we had to do anyway) than let them give her 2 or 3 shots in one visit. I found a Dr that agreed with that and that is the Dr we use.

 

[tinatark]

I'm working up the nerve to ask my doc for a script for it for bikini waxing!

Either that or pick some up otc in Canada. Or Mexico... whichever one I go to first!

 

[summerrluvv]

I never ever let them give my daughter more than one shot at a time. I would rather go back monthly for the first year (which we had to do anyway) than let them give her 2 or 3 shots in one visit. I found a Dr that agreed with that and that is the Dr we use.

Your insurance doesn't pay for the shots or the visit then do they? I know most insurance companies only cover the well visits and immunizations as the AAP recommends, thus making it so hard to spread out shots unless you have the money to pay for the visits (which I don't unfortunately). Plus there are sooo many shots given that first year, 3 shots with 5 different things most of the time, I don't even know how you could fit them all in over a period of a year just getting one at a time!

 

[aprilgail2]

Your insurance doesn't pay for the shots or the visit then do they? I know most insurance companies only cover the well visits and immunizations as the AAP recommends, thus making it so hard to spread out shots unless you have the money to pay for the visits (which I don't unfortunately). Plus there are sooo many shots given that first year, 3 shots with 5 different things most of the time, I don't even know how you could fit them all in over a period of a year just getting one at a time!

They paid for every single one of them-did not give me a problem at all about it. All I paid each time was a co-payment which was no big deal- $10.00.