Lidocaine Viscous Solution 2% aka Magic Mouthwash

My husband was prescribed Magic Mouthwash as soon as his eating troubles started. He didn’t like it. Patients use it before eating, numbs everything for a bit. It’s pretty standard here in the US.

Thanks. Did it numb him entirely? Like Loz reported numbing the mouth entirely might be dangerous? 

 The effect of the Lidocaine solution only lasts for a very short while so not a viable alternative for pain relief so if you have a feeding tube not worth following up on.

I live in Australia and was prescribed it by my radiotherapy doctor for pain relief in my mouth to use when eating. It was quite expensive though. I bought it from the hospital pharmacy. The reason I was prescribed it was because I did not have a feeding tube at all as my radiotherapy was aimed at my jaw and not my throat area. My mouth was full of ulcers and I still had to eat and it was so painful and difficult. Even with the Lidocaine which I swished around my mouth just before eating I ended up losing 10k.g.  If swallowed it numbs your throat and can put you at risk of choking. However I did not swallow it but spat it out. If you have a feeding tube and then don't have the need to eat food then they don't prescribe it here.

Lyn

Sophie66 said:

 The effect of the Lidocaine solution only lasts for a very short while so not a viable alternative for pain relief so if you have a feeding tube not worth following up on.

Thanks Lyn. I didn’t know that. It’s so popular in the USA I thought it was for general pain relief. 
It makes sense if you don’t have a feeding tube and I know there are some trusts still that flatly refuse stomach tubes except in extremis. 

It numbs you up pretty well. He had a hard time getting it back far enough in his throat. 

Hi Dani. I found that the effect only lasted about 10 mins at the most, just long enough to get down as much food as I could manage in that time.

Lyn

Sophie66 said:

Hi Dani. I found that the effect only lasted about 10 mins at the most, just long enough to get down as much food as I could manage in that time.

Seems such a cruel way to manage a patient. I know you had no choice but some trusts make you go through that when there is that choice to not to

I can see why its not available here, Dani, it sounds a bit harsh for the patient. 

chris2012 said:

I can see why its not available here, Dani, it sounds a bit harsh for the patient. 

Yes. No matter how we feel we shouldn’t be tubed it’s by far the most humane in my opinion 

I agree Dani. I would definitely had an NG tube if I had been offered one. I did not know enough about the treatment then and did not realise that it was even an option.

Lyn