What is the maximum dose of lidocaine 1% or 2% with or without epinephrine?

The maximum dose of lidocaine is essential to ensure patient safety while achieving effective local anesthesia. For lidocaine, the maximum dosage guidelines generally suggest a limit of 5 mg/kg when administered without epinephrine. However, when lidocaine is combined with epinephrine, the maximum dose can be increased up to 7 mg/kg. This is because epinephrine causes vasoconstriction, which reduces the risk of systemic absorption of lidocaine, allowing for higher safe limits in certain clinical situations.

Therefore, the correct answer reflects the understanding that in situations where epinephrine is used alongside lidocaine, practitioners can use a maximum of 7 mg/kg, making it appropriate for procedures where greater local anesthesia may be needed without significantly raising the risk of toxicity. This increase in maximum dosage helps provide effective pain control during surgical or invasive procedures.