Lidocaine Patch

A lidocaine patch is nothing, but a topical adhesive strip that contains 5% lidocaine. This lidocaine is applied to a non-woven polyester felt backing and is then covered with polyethylene terephthalate film release liner. Lidocaine is present in an aqueous base that may also contain many other ingredients, like gelatin, glycerin, kaolin, tartaric acid, etc. It is basically a local anesthetic agent that is used to relieve pain that is mostly associated with shingles, that is, post herpetic neuralgia.

Lidocaine Patch Usage

When you want to use a patch, ensure that it is applied to only intact skin and over the most painful area. So, first clean the area and the skin where you intend to place the patch. Then remove the protective liner and apply the patch to the skin to cover as much as possible of the most painful area. You can apply up to three patches once a day; or as directed by your health care provider. However, make sure that you do not leave a patch on for longer than twelve hours. If the area of application is small, then the lidocaine patch may be cut with scissors. Ensure that you cut the patch before removing the liner though. If you feel any kind of irritation or a burning sensation, remove the patch and do not reapply it until the irritation is gone. If the irritation still persists, then ask your health care provider for an alternative to this patch. As mentioned before, ensure that you apply this product only to intact, non-irritated, non-infected skin. Avoid contact with eyes, open wounds or mucous membranes at any cost. If any eye contact does occur, wash your eyes immediately with water and protect the eye until sensation returns.

Side Effects

Although the use of lidocaine patches for pain is a popular option, there are certain points that one needs to keep in mind. Firstly, when the patch is applied at the site of application, there may be development of blisters, bruising, a burning sensation, depigmentation, dermatitis, the formation of vesicles or papules, erythema, etc. These are mostly transient in nature and resolve within little time after application of the patch. There is also a chance that a person has a true allergy to these patches. In such cases, a person may develop anaphylactoid reactions like angioedema, dyspnea, urticaria, pruritus, bronchospasm and shock.

It is very rare that a person develops systemic side effects due to a lidocaine patch. This is because the amount of lidocaine absorbed through the skin from the patch is relatively less. However, in some very rare cases, a person may develop adverse reactions like those that are seen in case of use of other local anesthesia aids. These symptoms include CNS excitation or depression, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, nervousness, apprehension, convulsions, tremors, numbness, twitching, etc. Sometimes, there may even be cardiovascular manifestations like bradycardia and hypotension, which could be dangerous.

There are a few other uses of lidocaine patches. Back pain and muscle pain are also said to be treated with help of these topical patches, although this treatment is only symptomatic and the best way to deal with back pain is to treat the underlying root cause. One of the largest hindering factors for using these patches is when it comes to their cost. The lidocaine patch cost could go up to USD 200 for thirty patches! However, more than anything, it is best to ask your health care provider before using these patches to see whether they are indicated for your case of pain or not.