Lidocaine (Xylocaine), also known by the brand name Xylocaine MPF, is a local or regional anesthetic. It's given as an injection by a healthcare provider to numb a specific area of the body before certain procedures. Lidocaine injection is used to cause numbness or loss of feeling for patients having certain medical procedures (by blocking certain nerves using the brachial plexus, intercostal, lumbar, or epidural blocking techniques). Lidocaine injection is a local anesthetic. This means that it reduces sensation or pain in the area of the body where it is injected and does not affect other areas. It is similar to bupivacaine (Marcaine), articaine (Zorcaine), and Mepivacaine (Carbocaine). How is Xylocaine HCl given? A healthcare provider will give you this injection. When used to treat heart rhythm problems, lidocaine is given as an infusion into a vein. When used as a local anesthetic, lidocaine is injected through the skin directly into the body area to be numbed. Lidocaine Injection (local anesthetic): learn about side effects, dosage, special precautions, and more on MedlinePlus Lidocaine Injection may be used to anesthetize surgical sites or wounds. Lidocaine helps numb the area, keeping the animal comfortable and free of pain. In addition to pain management, lidocaine injections are also commonly used for treating pets with cardiac arrhythmia. Lidocaine is an anesthetic injection that a healthcare provider will give to you in a hospital or healthcare setting. It prevents and treats pain caused by some procedures. What is lidocaine injection? Lidocaine is a local anesthetic (numbing medication) that is used to numb an area of your body to help reduce pain or discomfort caused by invasive medical procedures such as surgery, needle punctures, or insertion of a catheter or breathing tube. Lidocaine should be given for this indication after defibrillation, CPR, and vasopressors have been initiated. A routine preventive dose is no longer recommended after a myocardial infarction as the overall benefit is not convincing. Lidocaine is used to relieve nerve pain after shingles (infection with the herpes zoster virus). Learn about side effects, drug interactions, dosages, warnings, and more.