Emla

Leaflet attached to the packaging: information for the user

Warning! Keep the leaflet, information on the immediate packaging in a foreign language!

Emla, 25 mg/g + 25 mg/g, cream

Lidocaine + Prilocaine

You should carefully read the contents of the leaflet before using the medicine, as it contains important information for the patient.

• You should keep this leaflet, so that you can read it again if you need to.
• If you have any doubts, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed specifically for you. Do not pass it on to others. The medicine may harm another person, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If the patient experiences any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, they should tell their doctor or pharmacist. See section 4.

Table of contents of the leaflet

• 1. What is Emla and what is it used for
• 2. Important information before using Emla
• 3. How to use Emla
• 4. Possible side effects
• 5. How to store Emla
• 6. Contents of the packaging and other information

1. What is Emla and what is it used for

Emla contains two active substances - lidocaine and prilocaine. They belong to a group of medicines called local anesthetics.
The action of Emla is to temporarily remove the sensation from the surface layers of the skin. The cream is applied to the skin before performing certain procedures and medical procedures.
This helps to eliminate pain in the skin; however, the patient may still feel pressure and touch.

Adults, adolescents, and children

Emla can be used for skin anesthesia before:

• injecting a needle into the skin (e.g., when giving an injection or taking blood for tests),
• minor surgical procedures on the skin.

Adults and adolescents

Emla can also be used:

• to anesthetize the genital area before: performing an injection, performing medical procedures such as removing warts. The application of Emla cream to the genital area should be performed under the supervision of a doctor or nurse.

Adults

Emla can also be used to anesthetize the skin before:

• debridement or removal of damaged skin on lower limb ulcers.

2. Important information before using Emla

When not to use Emla:

Warnings and precautions

Before starting to use Emla, you should discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist:

• Emla should not be used on areas of skin with a rash, cuts, scratches, or other open wounds, except for lower limb ulcers. If the patient has any of these changes, they should contact their doctor or pharmacist before using the cream,

Due to the possibility of increased absorption from freshly shaved skin, it is essential to follow the recommended dosage, area of application, and time of application on the skin.
One should avoid contact between Emla and the eyes, as it may cause irritation and chemical burns to the eyes. If the Emla cream accidentally gets into the eye, it should be rinsed immediately with lukewarm water or a physiological saline solution (0.9% NaCl solution).
One should be careful not to get anything into the eye until sensation returns.
Children should be closely monitored when using Emla on any part of the body to prevent them from transferring Emla to the eye (eyes).
Emla should not be used on a diseased eardrum.
When Emla is used in a patient before administering a live vaccine (e.g., tuberculosis vaccine), it should be remembered to report to the doctor for a follow-up visit at the designated time to assess the effectiveness of the vaccination.

Children and adolescents

In infants and newborns under 3 months of age, a transient, clinically insignificant increase in methemoglobin concentration in the blood (a form of hemoglobin, or blood pigment) is commonly observed within 12 hours of applying Emla.
The efficacy of Emla during blood sampling from the heel in newborns or to ensure adequate pain relief during circumcision has not been confirmed in clinical trials.
Emla should not be used on the mucous membrane of the genital organs (e.g., vagina) in children (under 12 years of age) due to insufficient data on the absorption of active substances.
Emla should not be used in children under 12 months of age who are being treated with other medicines that affect blood pigment and may cause methemoglobinemia (e.g., sulfonamides; see also section 2 "Emla and other medicines").
Emla should not be used in premature newborns.

Emla and other medicines

You should inform your doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines you are currently taking or have recently taken or may take. This includes medicines that can be bought without a prescription and herbal medicines. This is important because the ingredients of Emla can affect the action of some other medicines, and some other medicines may affect the action of Emla.
In particular, the patient should inform their doctor or pharmacist if they have used or taken any of the following medicines:

• Medicines used to treat infections called sulfonamides and nitrofurantoin.
• Medicines used to treat epilepsy: phenytoin and phenobarbital.
• Other local anesthetics.
• Medicines used to treat irregular heart rhythm, such as amiodarone.
• Cimetidine or beta-adrenergic blockers, which may increase the concentration of lidocaine in the blood. This interaction is not clinically significant in short-term use of Emla in recommended doses.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility

If the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, thinks they may be pregnant, or plans to have a child, they should consult their doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.
Occasional use of Emla during pregnancy is not associated with any risk of adverse effects on the fetus.
The active substances of Emla (lidocaine and prilocaine) are excreted into breast milk. However, the amount that passes into milk is so small that there is essentially no risk to the breastfed child.
In animal studies, no fertility disorders were found in males or females treated with the active ingredients of Emla.

Driving and using machines

Emla has no influence or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines when used in recommended doses.

Emla contains macrogolglycerol hydroxystearate

Macrogolglycerol hydroxystearate may cause skin reactions.

3. How to use Emla

Emla should always be used as directed by a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. If you are unsure, you should consult a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.

Using Emla

• The site of cream application, the amount of cream, and the time of application depend on the purpose for which it is used.
• The doctor, pharmacist, or nurse will apply the cream to the appropriate area or show the patient how to do it themselves.
• When Emla is used on the genital area, the doctor or nurse should supervise its use.

Emla should not be used in the following areas:

• Cuts, scratches, or wounds, except for lower limb ulcers.
• Areas with skin rash or eczema.
• Eyes or near the eyes.
• Inside the nose, ears, or mouth.
• In the anus.
• On the genital organs in children.

People who frequently apply or remove the cream from the patient's body should make sure to effectively avoid contact with the cream to prevent the development of hypersensitivity.
The protective membrane of the tube is pierced with the tube cap.

Using Emla on the skin before minor procedures (such as needle insertion or minor surgical procedures on the skin):

• The cream is applied to the skin in a thick layer. The doctor, pharmacist, or nurse will tell the patient where to apply the cream.
• Then, the layer of cream is covered with a dressing (plastic foil). The dressing is removed just before the procedure starts. If the patient applies the cream themselves, they should make sure to receive dressings from their doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
• Usually, the dose used in adults and adolescents over 12 years old is 2 g (grams).
• In adults and adolescents over 12 years old, the cream should be applied at least 60 minutes before the planned procedure time (except when the cream is to be applied to the genital area). However, the cream should not be applied more than 5 hours before the procedure or earlier.
• In children, the amount of Emla cream used and the time of application depend on the child's age. The doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will inform the patient how much cream to use and when to apply it.

When applying Emla cream, it is very important to follow the following instructions:

• 1. Squeeze out a portion of cream from the tube to form a mound in the area where it is needed on the skin (e.g., where the needle is to be inserted). A line of cream about 3.5 cm long from a 30 g tube corresponds to 1 g of cream. Half of the contents of a 5 g tube corresponds to about 2 g of Emla cream. Do not rub the cream into the skin.

• 2. Peel off the paper layer from the middle window of the non-sticky side of the dressing (leaving the paper frame).

• 3. Remove the top layer of the adhesive dressing.

• 4. Carefully place the dressing over the mound of cream. Do not spread the cream under the dressing.

• 5. Remove the paper stiffener. Carefully smooth out the edges of the dressing. Then, leave the dressing on for at least 60 minutes, unless the skin is damaged. The cream should not be left on for more than 60 minutes in children under 3 months old or more than 30 minutes in children with atopic dermatitis. When using the cream on the genital area or ulcers, shorter application times can be used as described below.

• 6. The doctor or nurse will remove the dressing and remove the cream just before performing the medical procedure (e.g., before inserting the needle).

Using Emla on larger areas of freshly shaved skin before performing procedures in outpatient settings (such as hair removal):

Usually, the dose of Emla used is 1 g of cream per 10 cm² (10 square centimeters) of skin surface, used for 1 to 5 hours under a dressing. Emla should not be used on a freshly shaved skin area larger than 600 cm² (600 square centimeters, e.g., 30 cm by 20 cm). The maximum dose is 60 g.

Using Emla on the skin before procedures performed in hospital settings (e.g., before a skin graft), which require deeper skin anesthesia:

• Emla can be used in this way in adults and adolescents over 12 years old.
• Usually, the dose used is 1.5 g to 2 g of cream per 10 cm² (10 square centimeters) of skin surface.
• The cream is applied and covered with a dressing for 2 to 5 hours.

Using Emla on the skin before removing warty lesions

• Emla can be used in children and adolescents with a skin condition called atopic dermatitis.
• Usually, the dose used depends on the child's age and is applied for 30 to 60 minutes (30 minutes in patients with atopic dermatitis). The doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will inform the patient how much cream to use.

Using Emla on the genital skin before injecting local anesthetics

• Emla can be used in this way only in adults and adolescents over 12 years old.
• Usually, the dose used is 1 g of cream (1 g to 2 g in the case of female genital skin) per 10 cm² (10 square centimeters) of skin surface.
• The cream is applied and covered with a dressing. The dressing is left on for 15 minutes in the case of male genital skin and for 60 minutes in the case of female genital skin.

Using Emla on the genital skin before minor surgical procedures on the skin (such as removing warts)

• Emla can be used in this way only in adults and adolescents over 12 years old.
• Usually, the dose used is 5 g to 10 g of cream for 10 minutes. No dressing is used. The procedure should be started immediately after.

Using Emla on ulcers of the lower limbs before debridement or removal of damaged skin

• Usually, the dose used is 1 g to 2 g of cream per 10 cm² (10 square centimeters) of skin surface and no more than 10 g.
• The cream is applied and covered with a tight dressing, e.g., plastic foil. The cream and dressing are applied 30 to 60 minutes before the debridement procedure. The cream should be removed with a cotton swab and the debridement procedure started immediately.
• Emla can be used before debridement of lower limb ulcers up to 15 times over a period of 1-2 months.
• When using the cream on lower limb ulcers, the Emla tube should be used as a single-use product: after each use of the cream in a patient, the tube with the remaining amount of cream should be discarded.

Using a larger dose of Emla than recommended

If more Emla than recommended by the doctor, pharmacist, or nurse is used, they should be contacted immediately, even if the patient does not feel any discomfort.
Problems and discomfort that may occur after using too much Emla are listed below. These discomforts should not occur when using Emla as directed.

• Feeling of "emptiness" in the head or dizziness.
• Numbness or tingling of the skin around the mouth and tongue.
• Disturbed sense of taste.
• Blurred vision.
• Ringing in the ears.
• There is also a risk of methemoglobinemia (a blood disorder). This is more likely if the patient is taking certain other medicines. In this case, the skin becomes blue-gray due to insufficient oxygen in the blood.

In severe cases of overdose, symptoms such as seizures, decreased blood pressure, decreased breathing rate, respiratory arrest, and abnormal heart rhythm may occur. These problems can be life-threatening.
If you have any further doubts about using this medicine, you should consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Emla can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If the patient experiences any of the following side effects, or any other side effects not listed in this leaflet, they should contact their doctor or pharmacist. The patient should tell their doctor about all the discomfort they experience when using Emla.
In the area where Emla is used, a mild reaction may occur (pallor or redness of the skin, slight swelling, initial burning or itching sensation). These are normal reactions to the cream and anesthetics, which disappear after a short time without the need for any medical intervention.
If the patient experiences any worrying or unusual effects or reactions when using Emla, they should stop using it and contact their doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.
Common(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• Transient local skin reactions (pallor, redness, swelling) at the site of application during use on the skin, mucous membrane of the genital organs, or on lower limb ulcers.
• Initial mild burning sensation, itching, or warmth at the site of application during use on the mucous membrane of the genital organs or on lower limb ulcers.

Uncommon(may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Initial mild burning sensation, itching, or warmth at the site of application during use on the skin.
• Numbness (tingling) at the site of application during use on the mucous membrane of the genital organs.
• Irritation of the skin at the site of application during use on lower limb ulcers.

Rare(may affect up to 1 in 1000 people)

• Allergic reactions, which in rare cases can lead to anaphylactic shock (skin rash, swelling, fever, difficulty breathing, and fainting) during use on the skin, mucous membrane of the genital organs, or on lower limb ulcers.
• Methemoglobinemia (blood disorder) during use on the skin.
• Minor pinpoint bleeding (petechiae) at the site of application (especially in children with eczema after longer exposure to the cream) during use on the skin.
• Irritation of the eyes if they accidentally come into contact with Emla cream during its use on the skin.

Frequency not known(cannot be estimated from the available data):

• Chemical burns to the eyes if they accidentally come into contact with Emla cream during treatment.

Additional side effects in children

Methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder, which is more commonly observed in children, often in association with overdose in newborns and infants from 0 to 12 months.

Reporting side effects

If side effects occur, including any not listed in this leaflet, the patient should tell their doctor or pharmacist. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Drug Safety Monitoring, Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products, Al. Jerozolimskie 181C, 02-222 Warsaw, tel.: +48 22 49 21 301, fax: +48 22 49 21 309, website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl
By reporting side effects, more information can be collected on the safety of the medicine.

5. How to store Emla

The medicine should be stored out of sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month.
Do not store above 30°C. Do not freeze.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. You should ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer needed. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the packaging and other information

What Emla contains

• The active substances of Emla are: lidocaine and prilocaine.
• 1 g of cream contains: 25 mg of lidocaine and 25 mg of prilocaine.
• Emla also contains: carbomers, macrogolglycerol hydroxystearate, sodium hydroxide, and purified water.

What Emla looks like and what the pack contains

White, homogeneous cream.
Emla is packaged in an aluminum tube with a membrane coated with a protective lacquer inside, with a cap with a piercer, in a cardboard box.
The pack contains 1 tube containing 5 g of cream and 2 dressings
For more detailed information, you should contact the marketing authorization holder or parallel importer.

Marketing authorization holder in Portugal, the country of export:

Aspen Pharma Trading Limited
3016 Lake Drive
Citywest Business Campus
Dublin 24
Ireland

Manufacturer

Recipharm Karlskoga AB
Björkbornsvägen 5
SE-691 33 Karlskoga
Sweden
AstraZeneca AB
Kvarnbergagatan 12
SE-151 85 Södertälje
Sweden

Parallel importer:

Medezin Sp. z o.o.
Zbąszyńska 3
91-342 Łódź

Repackaged by:

Medezin Sp. z o.o.
Zbąszyńska 3
91-342 Łódź
Marketing authorization number in Portugal, the country of export: 2443588
Parallel import authorization number: 430/24

This medicinal product is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:

Austria
Emla 5% - Creme
Belgium
Emla 25mg/25mg crème
Cyprus
Emla Cream 5%
Finland
EMLA
France
EMLA 5 POUR CENT, crème
Greece
EMLA
Iceland
Emla
Ireland
EMLA 5% w/w Cream
Italy
EMLA
Luxembourg
Emla 25mg/25mg crème
Malta
EMLA 5% w/w Cream
Norway
Emla
Poland
EMLA
Spain
EMLA 25 mg/g + 25 mg/g crema
Sweden
EMLA
Netherlands
Emla

Date of approval of the leaflet: 06.12.2024

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