numit 5% cream contains the active ingredients lidocaine and prilocaine, both are
local anaesthetics.
These local anaesthetics are combined with special agents which allow the products
to pass through the skin. Once through the skin the numbing effect they produce allows
minor surgical procedures to be performed with a complete or significant reduction
in pain.
These procedures can include insertion of IV catheters, mechanical cleansing or debridement
of leg ulcers, blood sampling, vaccination, superficial surgical procedures, including
split skin grafting; minor superficial cosmetic procedures. Topical anaesthesia of
genital skin prior to superficial surgical procedures or infiltration analgesia.
numit 5% cream is not addictive.
2. What should I know before I use numit 5% cream?
Warnings
Do not use numit 5% cream if:
you are allergic to lidocaine or prilocaine, or any of the ingredients listed at the
end of this leaflet.
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
you have any open wounds except leg ulcers.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you:
have any other medical conditions, e.g. dermatitis, methaemoglobinaemia, glucose-6-phosphate
dehydrogenase deficiency and mollusca contasgiosa. It may not be safe for you or
your child to use numit 5% cream if you have any of these conditions.
take any medicines for any other condition
intend to use it to treat other complaints
have allergies to local anaesthetic, eg those used at the dentist
have allergies to adhesives or sticking plasters
If you or your child have an allergic reaction, you may get a skin rash, hay fever
or an asthma attack.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
The ingredients in numit 5% cream have been used for many years and no ill effects
have been shown if they are used while you are pregnant.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
Only very small amounts of numit 5% cream get into the blood so there is a risk your
baby can take in numit 5% cream from breast milk if you are breast feeding, it is
unlikely to cause any problems.
numit 5% cream should not be used in premature babies.
We do not have enough knowledge yet to be sure if it is safe in premature babies.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with numit 5% cream and affect how it works.
a sulphonamide antibiotic eg sulfatrimoxazole
medicines used to treat irregular heartbeat such as amiodarone
other local anaesthetic
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect numit 5% cream.
4. How do I use numit 5% cream?
How much to use
Follow the instructions provided with the medicine.
Do not exceed the recommended dosage as this can cause harmful side effects, particularly
in infants under 3 months of age.
When to use numit 5% cream
On intact skin:
The most important thing to do is be sure that you apply numit 5% cream at least one
hour before you are due to have the procedure except for skin grafting where a two
hour application time is required or for procedures on male genital skin where only
fifteen minutes is required.
Leg ulcers:
If you are using numit 5% cream on leg ulcers you only need to apply the cream 30
minutes before your ulcer is going to be cleaned.
numit 5% cream can be left on for several hours and still work.
If you use too much numit 5% cream
If you think that you have used too much numit 5% cream, you may need urgent medical
attention.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling
13 11 26), or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Do not exceed the maximum recommended dose or length of administration. Children,
particularly those aged below 3 months of age, are at an increased risk of serious
adverse effects in overdose.
For most procedures, it is difficult to use too much numit 5% cream. Be careful not
to use too much in procedures where larger amounts may be required, such as cosmetic
hair removal (see Package Insert for maximum amounts). Using too much numit 5% cream
may cause unwanted side effects. Some of these can be serious such as methaemoglobinaemia
(a condition where the blood cannot take enough oxygen to your blood) or cardiovascular
effects (effects on your heart and lungs). If you use too much numit 5% cream, you
may notice the following:
- nervousness
- dizziness
- difficulty breathing
- numbness of the mouth
- your skin turning blue (a symptom of - methaemoglobinaemia)
- blurred vision
- shaky hands
- a rash where numit 5% cream has not been applied.
5. What should I know while using numit 5% cream?
Things you should do
Be sure to follow the instructions in the pack insert on how to apply numit 5% cream
carefully.
Make sure the dressing covering cream is firmly fixed, especially on young children.
If you or your child are using numit 5% cream on leg ulcers, only use the tube once.
Throw out any cream left in the tube after use.
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using numit 5% cream.
Things you should not do
Do not use on broken skin, unless a doctor has told you to.
Do not apply to large areas of the body, except on the advice of a healthcare practitioner.
If you do not follow the application duration instruction, your or your child's appointment
may have to be delayed, or the procedure may hurt more than it would otherwise.
Do not apply near eyes. It may cause eye irritation. If numit 5% cream does get into
your eyes, immediately rinse them with large amounts of water and contact your doctor
or pharmacist for advice.
Do not use numit 5% cream on leg ulcers for longer than 2 months without checking
with your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not exceed the recommended dose. Exceeding the recommended dose or length of application
may be harmful.
Looking after your medicine
Keep your cream in the pack until it is time to use it.
If you squeeze too much numit 5% cream out of the tube it should be discarded, it
should not be kept.
Do not let it freeze.
Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Store it in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Keep away from
moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on window sills.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions.
Rare side effects
Please refer to 'If you use too much numit 5% cream' for specific side effects as
a result of overdose.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
7. Product details
This medicine is available over-the-counter without a doctor's prescription.
What numit 5% cream contains
Active ingredient (s)
(main ingredient (s))
|
Lidocaine,
Prilocaine
|
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
|
Carbomer 934P,
Ethoxylated hydrogenated castor oil,
Purified water,
Sodium hydroxide
|
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What numit 5% cream looks like
numit 5% cream is a soft glossy cream in either a 10g or 30g tube (Aust R 265292).
5g tube is not currently marketed.
Who distributes numit 5% cream
Ego Pharmaceuticals Pty. Ltd.
13-31 Malcolm Road, Braeside 3195
Australia.
This leaflet was prepared in August 2025.