Emla numbing patches are starting to be hard to find in pharmacies, but there are tricks to reduce the pain of vaccines.
- Application of the EMLA patch may cause erythema or pallor. These reactions are reversible within 10 minutes.
- The minimum application time before the planned intervention is one hour. The anesthetic effect persists for at least 2 hours after removal of the patch.
Antibiotics, paracetamol, corticosteroids… Several treatments have been affected by supply tensions, even stock shortages, for many months. This is why the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM), the General Directorate of Health (DGS) and the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France (FSPF) hold a meeting every week to monitor the evolution of stocks. According to the website Actu.fr, a new product has just been added to this list. These are Emla patches.
“4,000 drugs out of stock” in pharmacies
These adhesive devices, which contain two local anesthetics (lidocaine and prilocaine), are intended for children. They are used to numb the skin before a painful medical procedure, such as an injection, a blood test or the placement of an infusion. Contacted by Actu.fr, Pierre-Olivier Variot, president of the union of community pharmacists (USPO), said that the reasons for this shortage remain, for the time being, unknown. “There are around 4,000 drugs out of stock, which is equivalent to a 40% increase”, he added.
Vaccine: how to reduce the pain?
Faced with the absence of Emla patches on the shelves of pharmacies, it is possible to use creams which have similar effects and which are not out of stock. If one wants to turn to non-drug methods, it is essential to install a reassuring climate before and during the medical act. Clearly, it is better to avoid pronouncing certain words, such as “pain” or “evil”, so as not to stress your child. During the bite, it is advisable to hold it against you, according to the pediatric advice site MonPediatre.net.
Another tip: distract your child by talking to him, telling him a story, showing his cuddly toy or singing a nursery rhyme. By diverting his attention, he may be less focused on the bite, which may limit the painful sensation. You can also give sugar water to your toddler to help reduce the perception of pain.
