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The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL 25258/0225.
Nulbia 5% cream
Nulbia 5% cream
Lidocaine + Prilocaine
Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse have told you.
1. What Nulbia is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Nulbia
3. How to use Nulbia
4 Possible side effects
5. How to store Nulbia
6. Contents of the pack and other information
Nulbia contains two active substances called lidocaine and prilocaine. These belong to a group of medicines called local anaesthetics.
Nulbia works by numbing the surface of the skin for a short time. It is put on the skin before certain medical procedures. This helps to stop pain on the skin; however you may still have the feelings of pressure and touch.
It can be used to numb the skin before:
It can also be used:
A doctor or nurse should apply Nulbia on the genitals.
It can also be used to numb the skin before:
For other purposes than application to intact skin, the product should be used only upon recommendation of a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Due to the potentially enhanced absorption on the newly shaven skin, it is important to follow the recommended dosage, skin area and application time.
Avoid getting Nulbia in the eyes, as it may cause irritation. If you accidentally get Nulbia in your eye, you should immediately rinse it well with lukewarm water or salt (sodium chloride) solution. Be careful to avoid getting anything in your eye until feeling returns.
Nulbia should not be applied to an impaired eardrum.
When you use Nulbia before being vaccinated with live vaccines (e.g. tuberculosis vaccines), you should return to your doctor or nurse after the time period requested to follow-up the vaccination result.
In infants/newborn infants younger than 3 months a transient, clinically not relevant increase in blood pigment levels “methaemoglobinaemia” is commonly observed up to 12 hours after Nulbia is put on.
The effectiveness of Nulbia when drawing blood from the heel of newborn infants or to provide adequate analgesia for circumcision could not be confirmed in clinical studies.
Nulbia should not be applied to the genital skin (e.g. penis) and genital mucosa (e.g. in the vagina) of children (below 12 years of age) owing to insufficient data on absorption of active substances.
Nulbia should not be used in children younger than 12 months of age who are being treated at the same time with other medicines that affect blood pigment levels “methaemoglobinaemia” (e.g. sulphonamides, see also Section 2 Other medicines and Nulbia).
Nulbia should not be used in preterm newborn infants.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using/taking, have recently used/taken, or might use/take any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines. This is because Nulbia can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Nulbia.
In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you or your child have recently used or been given any of the following medicines:
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.
Occasional use of Nulbia during pregnancy is unlikely to have any adverse effects on the foetus.
The active substances in Nulbia (lidocaine and prilocaine) are passed into breast milk. However, the amount is so small that there is generally no risk to the child.
Animal studies have shown no impairment of male or female fertility.
Nulbia has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines when used at the recommended doses.
Castor oil polyoxyl hydrogenated may cause skin reactions.
Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse have told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure.
Persons frequently applying or removing cream should ensure that contact is avoided in order to prevent the development of hypersensitivity.
The protective membrane of the tube is perforated by applying the cap.
Use on the skin before small procedures (such as having a needle put in or minor skin operations):
Application time: approx. 1 hour.
Newborn infants and infants 0-2 months: Up to 1 g of cream on a skin area not larger than 10 cm2 (10 square centimetres) in size. Application time: 1 hour, not more. Only one single dose should be given in any 24 hour period.
Infants aged 3-11 months: Up to 2 g of cream on a total skin area not larger than 20 cm2 (20 square centimetres) in size. Application time: approx. 1 hour.
Children aged 1-5 years: Up to 10 g of cream on a total skin area not larger than 100 cm2 (100 square centimetres) in size. Application time: approx. 1 hour, maximum 5 hours.
Children aged 6-11 years: Up to 20 g of cream on a total skin area not larger than 200 cm2 (200 square centimetres) in size. Application time: approx. 1 hour, maximum 5 hours.
A maximum of 2 doses at least 12 hours apart may be given to children over 3 months of age in any 24 hour period.
Nulbia can be used on children with a skin condition called “atopic dermatitis” but the application time is then 30 minutes, no longer.
When you apply the cream, it is very important to exactly follow the instructions below:
1. Squeeze the cream into a mound where it is needed on your skin (for example where the needle is going to be put in).
Half a 5 g tube corresponds to about 2 g Nulbia. One gram of cream pressed out of a tube is approximately 3.5 cm.
Do not rub the cream in.
2. Remove the covers of the dressing.
3. Then place the dressing carefully over the mound of the cream. Do not spread the cream under the dressing.
4. Remove the paper backing. Smooth down the edges of the dressing carefully. Then leave it in place for at least 60 minutes if the skin has not been damaged. The cream should not be left in place for more than 60 minutes in children under 3 months or for more than 30 minutes in children with an itchy skin condition called ‘atopic dermatitis’.
5. Your doctor or nurse will take the dressing off and remove the cream just before they do the medical procedure (for example just before the needle is put in).
Follow the instructions from your health care professional.
The usual dose is 1 g of cream for each area of skin that is 10 cm² (10 square centimetres) in size, applied for 1 to 5 hours under a dressing. Nulbia should not be used on an area of newly shaven skin larger than 600 cm² (600 square centimetres, e.g. 30 cm by 20 cm) in size. The maximum dose is 60 g.
Nulbia can be used in this way only by healthcare professionals on adults and adolescents over 12 years.
The usual dose is 5 g to 10 g of cream for 10 minutes. A dressing is not used. The medical procedure should then start straight away.
If you use more Nulbia than what is described in this leaflet or more than your doctor, pharmacist or nurse have told you to, talk to one of them straight away, even if you do not feel any symptoms.
Symptoms of using too much Nulbia are listed below. These symptoms are unlikely to happen if Nulbia is used as recommended.
In serious cases of overdose, symptoms may include fits, low blood pressure, slowed breathing, stopped breathing and altered heartbeat. These effects may be life threatening.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Contact your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects bother you or do not seem to go away. Tell your doctor about anything else that makes you feel unwell while you are using Nulbia.
A mild reaction (paleness or redness of the skin, slight puffiness, initial burning or itching) may occur on the area on which Nulbia is used. These are normal reactions to the cream and the anaesthetics and will disappear in a short while without any measures being needed.
If you experience any troublesome or unusual effects while you are using Nulbia, stop using it and check with your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Methaemoglobinaemia, a blood disorder, which is more frequently observed, often in connection with overdose in newborn infants and infants aged 0 to 12 months.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Store below 30°C. Do not refrigerate or freeze.
After first opening use within 6 months.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the package and tube after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Nulbia is a white soft cream. It is presented in collapsible aluminium tubes of 5g and 30g, internally covered with an epoxyphenolic lacquer.
Pack sizes:
1 x 30g tube
1 x 5g tube
1 x 5g tube with 2 dressings
1 x 5g tube with 3 dressings
5 x 5g tubes
5 x 5g tubes with 12 dressings
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
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Manufacturer
This leaflet was last revised in June 2020.