Lidocaine: Risk Groups

Pregnant women:
Use allowed: reduce dose by 1/3! Regional anesthesias during birth may cause abnormal glucose levels or acidosis in the neoneate.

Nursing mothers:
Is excreted in small (safe?) amounts in breast milk.

Children:
Dosage dependent on weight: Without adrenaline: maximum of 3 mg/kg. With adrenaline: maximum of 7 mg/kg.

Elderly people:
Half-life is usually prolonged. Initial dose see above; reduce the following doses by about 1/3. Only half the dose when there is heart failure or liver insufficiency!

Renal failure:
A dose reduction is indicated for advanced renal failure considering the active metabolites.

Liver insufficiency:
Hepatic clearance can decrease to 1/10 of the norm! A dose reduction of at least 50% is recommended.

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