Dextrose provides an important avenue for delivering basic nutrients to patients who would otherwise be unable to eat normally. Lidocaine, meanwhile, is an effective anaesthetic. When taken in conjunction with each other, dextrose and lidocaine constitute an effective medication for treating specific forms of heart arrhythmia.
Dextrose and Lidocaine
Dextrose is used medically as an injected solution that supplies your body with water and calories in the form of sugar carbohydrates, MayoClinic.com notes. It is often used when the patient is unable to consume liquids normally. Lidocaine, on the other hand, is a type of medication used as a local anaesthetic for minor surgery. It is also injected during dental surgery and is prescribed to relieve skin inflammation and itching sensation. Aside from this, lidocaine has antiarrhythmic properties and is used intravenously to treat ventricular arrhythmias, such as acute myocardial infarction and cardioversion.
Function
When taken together in a single intravenous dose, a 0.4% lidocaine and 5% dextrose solution is effective for treating ventricular arrhythmias, Drugs.com notes. This medication induces an antiarrhythmic effect by increasing the ventricle's electrical stimulation capacity. Administering a lidocaine-dextrose solution can be especially useful for stabilizing heart rhythms during cardiac surgery, when cardiac manipulation is necessary. This solution is also effective for countering the life-threatening heart arrhythmias that occur due to acute myocardial infarction.
Side Effects
Using a dextrose and lidocaine intravenous solution may result in some side effects, ranging from minor to more serious, Franciscan St. Francis Health notes. These may include drowsiness, dizziness, muscle twitching, ringing in the ears and vomiting. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience blurred or double vision, chest pain, shallow breathing, tremors or seizures, fainting, slow heartbeat, allergic reaction such as hives or swelling, feelings of nervousness or anxiety, fever, sweating, irregular heartbeat or muscle stiffness. Discontinue the use of this solution if you experience serious side effects.
Contraindications
Always tell your doctor what medications you are currently taking. If you have heart disease, lung disease or liver disease, you should indicate this as well. Take note that digoxin, propranolol and cimetidine may interact adversely with a lidocaine-dextrose solution. There is currently no evidence that indicates any harmful effects on pregnant or breast-feeding women; however, this medication should be used by pregnant women only when it is absolutely necessary, Drugs.com advises.
