Emla Cream 5%

EMLA Cream Side Effects

EMLA is a cream that is applied directly to the skin’s surface therefore the most common side effects are related to skin irritations. These include, but are not exclusive to, forms of reaction such as swelling, burning, redness and itching.

Whilst very rare, there can be more serious side effects most commonly occurring if a patient applies too much cream or does not apply it as recommended. These peculiar side effects include breathing difficulty, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, fainting and severe drowsiness.

It’s important to seek medical help immediately should you experience any serious side effects when using this product. Please contact 999 for medical emergencies and 111 for medical advice that is not necessarily an emergency.

Whilst EMLA cream has been proven to be popular and highly beneficial to men suffering from premature ejaculation, it may not be suitable for everyone. Although very rare it should be avoided by people who have allergies to either lidocaine or prilocaine OR have certain rare genetic blood disorders.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. 

These can be found on medicines.org by typing them into the search bar.

• EMLA Cream Patient Information Leaflet

Sensation or stimulation is triggered by the activation of pain receptors at nerve endings. Part of the nerve changes its overall charge, the charge changes when sodium enters through the nerve ending. Once the charge reaches a threshold, a signal is sent to the brain.

EMLA cream contains both lidocaine and prilocaine, both of which are local anaesthetics that will numb the area it is applied to. The application of Emla blocks the effects of nerve stimulation temporarily. This prevents the build-up of an electric signal and the passing along nerve fibres to the brain. When Emla is applied to the tip of the penis it reduces the sensation in that area only and therefore prolongs the period of time it takes a man to ejaculate if sensation is the only reason causing the premature ejaculation.

Use Emla cream as directed by your doctor or as according to the instructions on the product label. Do not apply the cream in large quantities to the area unless advised otherwise by your doctor.

Your doctor will normally give you instructions on how much medicine to use and how long to leave it on the skin. Follow these directions carefully.

If you use too much of Emla cream, your body may absorb too much of the local anaesthetic, especially if you apply it over large skin areas or if you apply heat on the treated skin areas. Try to avoid using the cream on areas of the skin that are cut or irritated as this may also increase the level of absorption.

For men a thick layer of the cream should be applied to the penis and allowed to sit for 15 minutes prior to having sex. It is important to note that you should wipe of all of the cream thoroughly prior to engaging in sexual intercourse and dispose of the cream appropriately. There should be no traces on your skin before entering your partner.