Xylocaine or Ethyl Chloride?

[Stoday]

I've been on in center hemodialysis for less than a month and I'm a bit of a baby too, so the techs use a local anesthetic before sticking me.

I've had two different locals; it seems the tech chooses whichever is nearer to him in the cupboard. Either Xylocaine (Licocaine based) or Ethyl Chloride (freezes).

I'd like to know what others think the merits and disadvantages of each are. All I've found out is that Ethyl Chloride is around five times the price of Xylocaine.

[Riki]

I use Emla cream, which, according to the box, is is lidocaine and prilocaine.. not sure what either of them are.. *L*  I put it on about an hour before I leave, and cover it with a tegederm.  I'm told some people use, saran wrap to cover it, but it's hard to do that with one hand... *L*  It works great, numbs the skin so that you don't feel the needle going in, and don't flinch, making it easier for the nurses to find the vessel.

It's a little pricey, about $50 for the 30g tube, but you don't use a whole lot.  1 tube lasted me almost 3 months.