Prilocaine

The Basics

What is Prilocaine?

Used on the skin or in the genital area to cause numbness or loss of feeling before certain medical procedures.

Brand names for Prilocaine

Citanest Forte Dental

How Prilocaine is classified

Anesthetics – Local

Prilocaine During Pregnancy

Prilocaine pregnancy category

Category BNote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Prilocaine while pregnant

Reproduction studies have been performed in rats at doses up to 30 times the human dose and revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to prilocaine. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response. General consideration should be given to this fact before administering prilocaine to women of childbearing potential, especially during early pregnancy when maximum organogenesis takes place.

Taking Prilocaine While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Prilocaine?

No information is available on the use of prilocaine during breastfeeding. Based on the low excretion of other local anesthetics into breastmilk, a single dose of prilocaine injected during breastfeeding, such as for a dental procedure, is unlikely to adversely affect the breastfed infant. However, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Topical application of prilocaine to the mother is unlikely to affect her breastfed infant if it is applied away from the breast. Only water-miscible cream or gel products should be applied to the breast because ointments may expose the infant to high levels of mineral paraffins via licking.[1]

Maternal / infant drug levels

No information is available on the use of prilocaine during breastfeeding. Based on the low excretion of other local anesthetics into breastmilk, a single dose of prilocaine injected during breastfeeding, such as for a dental procedure, is unlikely to adversely affect the breastfed infant. However, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Topical application of prilocaine to the mother is unlikely to affect her breastfed infant if it is applied away from the breast. Only water-miscible cream or gel products should be applied to the breast because ointments may expose the infant to high levels of mineral paraffins via licking.[1]

Possible effects of Prilocaine on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Possible alternatives to Prilocaine

None listed