Lignocaine Gel (Instillagel 2%)
In addition to giving your child/young person painkilling medicine after circumcision, you will be given a tube of local anaesthetic jelly called Instillagel to numb the area around the ring near the thread or the stitches.
This may be used:
- If your child is in pain after circumcision.
- If, before passing urine, your child/young person is frightened to do so.
- After passing urine.
You will be shown how to apply the jelly in the clinic by Dr Khan before your child/young person leaves the clinic after circumcision at London Circumcision Centre.
It is very useful for the first 24–48 hours in babies, or for a few days in children. It can be applied every 4 hours up to a maximum of 5 times a day. It works within 5–10 minutes and lasts for up to 45–90 minutes.
If you think your child/young person is in pain after circumcision, please give the painkillers as directed. Be reassured that you will not overdose him if you follow these instructions, nor will he become addicted to the medicines.
It is best to give the painkillers regularly for the first 2–3 days after the circumcision, and then as needed:
Paracetamol (Calpol, Disprol)
- Can be given regularly 4 times a day for the first 2 days after going home, and thereafter as needed up to 4 times a day.
- Give the amount as directed on the bottle, or Dr Khan will calculate the dose for babies under 2 months old according to their weight.
- Paracetamol can be given to a child under 2 months old.
Ibuprofen (Junior Nurofen)
- Can be given to children over 3 months old, as needed, up to 3 times a day.
- It is safe to give both Ibuprofen and Paracetamol together, or alternate Ibuprofen with regular doses of Paracetamol.
- If your child/young person is asthmatic, it may still be safe to give them Ibuprofen if they have had it before in hospital. If you are worried, please talk to the nursing staff or doctors before leaving the clinic.
- If your child’s asthma worsens at home, stop using Ibuprofen but continue with Paracetamol as prescribed.
- Rarely, Ibuprofen can cause indigestion; if this occurs, stop using it but continue with Paracetamol.
- Always follow the instructions on the bottle for drug dosage.
Please ask Dr Khan if you have any questions.
Disclaimer
The content on our website is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek advice from Dr Khan regarding any medical questions or conditions that develop after circumcision.
Resource
Please see UpToDate about newborn circumcision information for parents.