Emla Cream is a local anaesthetic that is applied topically. Local anaesthetics help to numb an area, reducing its ability to feel the sensation. It contains two active ingredients; Lidocaine and Prilocaine. Each gram of Emla cream contains 25mg of Lidocaine and 25mg of Prilocaine. Emla Cream is manufactured by AstraZeneca. Emla Cream has a variety of anaesthetic uses, including being prescribed to help men who suffer from premature ejaculation.

It is important you do not follow the instructions on the Patient Information Leaflet with this product; it gives instructions for different uses of Emla cream.

• Pull back the foreskin and apply a pea-sized amount of Emla cream to the underside of the head and neck of the penis
• Leave the cream for 15 – 30 minutes before sex
• Ensure you remove all the cream before having sex as it can be transferred to your partner and reduce their sensitivity
• Emla cream is unaffected by food and alcohol and is suitable for use with non-latex condoms

The active substances in each gram of Emla cream are: lidocaine 25 mg and prilocaine 25mg.

The other ingredients are: polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, Carbomer 974P, sodium hydroxide and purified water.

Not everyone will experience side effects when using Emla Cream, however, if you do experience side effects from the use of Emla cream they may include:

• Redness
• Tingling
• Swelling
• Paleness of the skin
• Itching or burning sensation

If you experience any of these side effects they should not last long. Please read the Patient Information Leaflet enclosed with your medicines for a full list of side effects.

If you experience any adverse effects from taking your prescribed medicine and you are concerned you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible. In a medical emergency, you should contact the emergency services or go straight to your local Accident & Emergency.

Emla cream should help to reduce the sensitivity of the penis, however, its effectiveness can vary. If you find that Emla cream was not as effective as you would like the first time, try spreading it over a larger area. Do not use more than a pea-sized amount and never leave it in place for more than 30 minutes. Leaving Emla cream on for too long can cause complete numbness and can prevent you from achieving an erection.

Do not use Emla cream if:

You are anaemic (a blood problem which means you have too few red blood cells)
You have a rare inherited illness that affects the blood called ‘glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency'
You have a problem with blood pigment levels called ‘methaemoglobinaemia’
You have a skin condition called ‘atopic dermatitis'. This is because the cream may need to be put on the skin for a shorter time
Emla Cream and other medicines
Do not use Emla cream if you have recently used or been given any of the following medicines:

Medicines called ‘sulphonamides’ such as sulfamethoxazole
Other local anaesthetics
Medicines to treat an uneven heartbeat, such as mexiletine or amiodarone