Getting an IV or having blood drawn can be stressful. A new analysis of five clinical trials suggests that a needle-free device that sprays lidocaine into the skin may help reduce anxiety during these procedures.
The analysis combined results from 5 randomized controlled trials. The studies looked at people of all ages who needed a needle inserted into a vein. The device, called jet lidocaine, delivers numbing medication without a needle. The researchers measured anxiety and pain levels.
They found that jet lidocaine significantly lowered anxiety compared to a placebo or no treatment. The effect was strong and consistent across the studies. However, the same was not true for pain. The reduction in pain was not statistically significant, meaning the difference could have been due to chance.
No safety concerns were reported in the trials, but the analysis did not detail side effects. The researchers note that larger studies with standardized methods are needed to confirm these findings. For now, jet lidocaine appears to be a promising option for reducing anxiety during needle procedures, but it should not be relied on for pain relief.
