EMLA cream -prescription only (UK)

[saraht123]

Is EMLA prescription only in the UK or can I get it over the counter? My electrologist is suggesting I get some 5% cream. It seemed to work  quite well when I tried some before.

It just seems a bit of a work up if I have to go to my GP for a prescription (and would likely out me to him, which might not be a bad thing, I guess.

[alena]

I get mine over the counter at Boots, you'll have to ask the pharmacist. I can't remember the cost but its no more than £5!

[saraht123]

Thanks alena. I will pop in and get some. I couldn't even find it on Boots website and Lloyds had it flagged as prescrition only for some reason.

[alena]

They come in small tubes and I keep losing mine!

[Squircle]

There are a few online pharmacies that sell it too. I use it for the same reason, just ordered some today actually. It does help take the edge off.

[rachel89]

Did over 1/2 hour of upper lip electro without numbing today. I'm feeling like a tough bitch... or just dumb...
It hurt  a lot, but I don't give a ->-bleeped-<- I'm going through enough pain and fear right now that electro pain is the least of my concerns. But for anyone else doing upper lip, a fentanyl drip might be appropriate.

[AnonyMs]

This recent topic may be of interest here

Electrolysis Pain Management
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,176665.0.html

[big kim]

Tried it and wasn't too impressed.While it took a bit of the edge off it's no miracle pain killer.I used toget a shot from the dentist for top lip work,much better

[Ms Grace]

It really only numbs the top layer of the skin - that might be a bit helpful or not. My last session the electro stuck the needle right under my nostril... didn't feel it at all. Was it the emla or just that it miraculously missed any nerves in that remarkably sensitive area?? Methinks the latter.

[Squircle]

It just takes the edge off slightly, that's all. The thing that helped me most was learning to relax and keep my breathing consistent.

[saraht123]

Generally, I've not found it to be too bad. There's just been a couple of times it seemed a bit more ouch than others. I've not had much upper lip done yet and when I did, it was with some emla I borrowed so it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Neck was a bit squirmy first time, but I think I'm getting used to it.

[iKate]

I use a cream with 20% benzocaine and 6% lidocaine plus some other stuff in the mix. Apparently it's OTC legal as I bought it from a North American compounding pharmacy without a prescription. I did a pretty hot Nd:YAG laser treatment yesterday, it was so bad my face was really swollen for an hour and still hurting today. I really didn't feel it much at all in most places. In fact she didn't have to stop much at all since I was able to power through it.

[rachel89]

The breathing actually helps more than I thought it would.

[saraht123]

Yep, I think breathing really does help and if I get too tense it hurts more so I try and avoid that. When it's going well, I think sometimes I'm getting close to self hypnosis or meditation something!

[Kristen8]

rachel89, you sound like your an RN mentioning a 'Fentanyl drip".

Have all you girls done laser before resorting to electro for the remaining blonde, grey, or stubborn facial hair? I am just about done with the laser and will use electo for the cleanup on my face. I tried the EMLA type product with higher % of lidocaine and another topical anesthetic and I did not help much if at all even after waiting an hour. I think it is b/c the hair roots are deep in the dermis where topicals just do not reach as effectively as other routes of med administration. I am glad I have a high tolerance for pain though, even so my eyes tear a bit with my face and the high fluence setting.

[Wynternight]

EMLA does sod all for me. I put it on every session and might as well splash with water for all the good it does, especially for the upper lip. My electro is thinking about asking one of the dentists in the building if she can send clients to see them for lidocaine injections before sessions. I really hope they'll do it because upper lip is awful. I'm in tears the whole time.