EMLA Cream: Do Your 'Early Arrivals' Require a Prescription?

There are many different reasons why you might be prematurely climaxing in the bedroom. If you've talked to your doctor and ruled out any mental or emotional reasons for your premature ejaculation problems, it might be that your penis is just too sensitive to physical stimulation. And in these situations, you might need something a little stronger and more reliable that whatever shady-looking, vaguely-Asian-sounding numbing cream you see gathering dust on the shelves of your local convenience store.

EMLA Cream is a prescription-strength numbing cream that can be applied topically to any part of your skin which is experiencing pain. But because of its numbing properties, it can also be used to numb the sensitive skin of the penis so that you can last longer in bed. If you've tried different products to help you delay your climax and still haven't seen any results, the next step might involve talking to your doctor about EMLA Cream.

What Makes EMLA Cream Work?

EMLA Cream contains 2 different topical anesthetics: lidocaine and prilocaine. The cream is formulated with a 2.5% concentration for both medicines.

What are the Benefits of Choosing a Prescription?

It isn't uncommon for over-the-counter numbing creams to contain lidocaine, but few (if any) also incorporate prilocaine into the mix. And because these two medications work synergistically together, the low concentration of medicine has the potential to be as powerful or more so than the majority of non-prescription creams out there.

Our "WTF" Moment with EMLA Cream

You know how most prescription drugs come with a laundry-list of scary-sounding side effects? Well, EMLA cream is no exception. For starters, you obviously shouldn't use this cream if you are allergic to topical anesthetics in the "-caine" family. There are also certain diseases, such as liver disease, methemoglobinemia, or glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency which might make taking this medication dangerous if you have such an illness (or illnesses).

EMLA Cream could have dangerous interactions with certain medications. These include: dietary supplements, antiarrhythmics, beta-blockers, cimetidine, other medications which contain lidocaine and prilocaine, acetaminophen, acetanilid, aniline dyes, any other "-caine", chloroquine, dapsone, naphthalene, nitrates and nitrites (found in large amounts in hot dogs and other processed meats), nitrofurantoin, phenobarbital, quinine, sulfonamides, or succinylcholine. You should warn your doctor and your pharmacist if you take any of the above before getting a prescription for EMLA Cream.

Lastly, experts agree that you should warn your doctor "if you have been ill" before asking them for an EMLA Cream prescription. Naturally, because it's a prescription medication, they have to cover all of their bases to avoid litigation. But with all the warnings and contraindications, it makes us wonder if anyone is actually using this medication.

Is EMLA Cream the Best Cure for PE?

There is a lot of debate about whether or not EMLA Cream is the best topical solution for treating men who suffer from premature ejaculation. Since it would technically be an "off-label" use (using a prescription drug for something other than its explicit purpose), you might have a hard time finding a doctor who would be willing to write you a script. Some doctors may see the benefit of it for your PE problems, while others who are stricter about their practice might not want to prescribe any medicine for off-label use (which is understandable considering the scary side effects and drug interactions).

Then there's the fact that you actually have to have the conversation with your doctor in the first place. That can be awkward and embarrassing. So if you're looking for a more private solution, we suggest taking a look at our Top Picks list. All of the products on there are effective and can be ordered from the privacy of your own home - no awkward conversation with your doctor required!