Why is this medication prescribed?
To treat the pain of post-herpetic neuralgia, prescription lidocaine transdermal (Dermalid, Lidoderm, Ztildo) is utilised (PHN; burning, stabbing pains, or aches that may last for months or years after a shingles infection). For modest pain in the shoulders, arms, neck, and legs in adults and children 12 years of age and older, nonprescription (over-the-counter) lidocaine (Absorbine Jr, Aspercreme, Lidocare, Salonpas, among others) is also offered. Lidocaine is a member of the local anaesthetics drug class. It functions by preventing pain signals from being sent by nerves.
How should this medicine be used?
Prescription-only transdermal lidocaine is available as a 1.8% topical system (Ztlido) and as a 5% patch (Dermalid, Lidoderm). Only once daily, as needed, is prescription lidocaine transdermal used to treat pain. Never use more than three lidocaine 5% patches or lidocaine 1.8% topical systems at once, and do not wear them for longer than 12 hours each day (12 hours on and 12 hours off). Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the lidocaine transdermal directions exactly. Apply it only as directed by your doctor, neither more nor less frequently.
Non-prescription transdermal lidocaine is available as a 4% patch (Absorbine Jr, Aspercreme, Lidocare, Salonpas, among others). Up to three applications per day are made, each lasting no longer than eight hours. Apply non-prescription lidocaine patches precisely as instructed. Use just as indicated by the instructions on the package. Do not use more or less of it, or use it more frequently or for a longer period of time.
How many lidocaine patches or topical systems you can use at once, as well as how long you can wear the patches, will be determined by your doctor. Serious negative effects may result from applying too many patches or topical systems or from leaving them on for too long.
To clean, dry, intact skin, use the lidocaine patch or topical system as prescribed. Select a location where clothing that is too tight won’t rub the patch. Applying the patch or topical system to skin that is open, cut, inflamed, red, or suffering from a rash, burn, or another skin condition is not advised. When applying lidocaine, if irritation or a burning feeling develops, remove the patch or system and wait until the discomfort subsides before applying it again. Before removing the release liner, prescription patches and topical systems can be cut into smaller sizes with scissors. Prior to installing a new patch, make sure you uninstall the existing one.
Keep your eyes away from the transdermal lidocaine solution. If lidocaine transdermal does get in contact with your eye, flush it out with water or saline as away, then cover it until your sensibility returns.
Avoid using hot pads or electric blankets on the treated region while you are wearing a lidocaine transdermal patch or system. After moderate heat exposure, such as 15 minutes on a medium-hot heating pad, you can use the lidocaine 1.8% topical system. Avoid tightly bandaging the injured region.
While using the prescription lidocaine 5% transdermal patch, avoid bathing, swimming, or taking a shower. You can take a 10-minute shower while wearing the prescription lidocaine 1.8% topical system, or you can submerge it in water for up to 15 minutes. Do not rub the skin or the lidocaine 1.8% topical system if it becomes moist. Instead, gently pat the skin.
Press hard on the margins of the lidocaine 1.8% topical system or elevated portions to reattach it if it totally falls off or lifts at the edges. Apply a fresh lidocaine topical system for a maximum of 12 hours of use if the lidocaine 1.8% topical system fully comes off more than once and does not adhere to the skin.
After using lidocaine patches or a topical method, wash your hands.
If your discomfort persists for more than seven days or if it gets better before getting worse, stop using the non-prescription lidocaine 4% patch and notify your doctor.
For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
Other uses for this medicine
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before using lidocaine transdermal,
- If you have an allergy to lidocaine or any other drugs, including benzocaine, let your doctor and pharmacist know. any of the constituents in lidocaine transdermal, bupivacaine (Marcaine), etidocaine (Duranest), mepivacaine (Carbocaine, Prolocaine), prilocaine (Citanest), procaine, or tetracaine. Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
- Inform your physician and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Incorporate any of the following: Metoclopramide, acetaminophen (Tylenol), chloroquine, dapsone (Aczone), disopyramide (Norpace), flecainide (Tambocor), and painkillers given topically or orally (Reglan), primaquine, procainamide (Procanabid, Pronestyl), propafenone (Rhythmol), quinidine (Quinidex), quinine (Qualaquin), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), and tocainide are some of the medications that are used to treat various conditions. Mexiletine (Mexitil), moricizine (Ethmozine), nitrofurantoin ( (Tonocard). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
- Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had heart, lung, or liver disease, methemoglobinemia (a condition where defective red blood cells cannot carry oxygen to the body’s tissues), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD) deficiency (an inherited blood disorder), or any other medical conditions.
- Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while wearing lidocaine patches or other topical applications.
- Inform the surgeon or dentist that you are using lidocaine patches or topical systems if you are undergoing surgery, including dental surgery.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
Typically, this drug is taken as needed. Apply the missing patch or topical system as soon as you remember it if your doctor has instructed you to use lidocaine patches or topical systems often. If your next dose is approaching, skip the missed patch and carry on with your regular dosing regimen. Applying a second dose to make up for a missed one is not advised.
What side effects can this medication cause?
There may be negative effects from topical applications of lidocaine. Remove your patch or topical system if any of these symptoms appear, and wait to reapply it until the problem has passed. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:
- Burning or discomfort where the patch was applied
- Bruising or redness of the skin beneath the patch
Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Even though the following signs are unusual, you should call your doctor right once if you notice any of them:
- Hives
- Rash
- Itching
- Blisters
- Bruising
- Breathing or swallowing challenges
- Swelling of the lower legs, hands, feet, ankles, or face, neck, tongue, lips, eyes, or mouth
- Hoarseness
- Rapid breathing or heartbeat
- Uncommon thirst
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Pale, gray, or blue colored skin; headache; shortness of breath; lightheadedness; or fatigue
Other negative effects could result with transdermal lidocaine use. If you experience any strange issues while taking this drug, call your doctor right away.
You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).
What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom). Patches and topical systems shouldn’t be kept outside of the sealed package. Fold used patches or topical systems so that the sticky side adheres to itself, and then dispose of them properly in the garbage out of the reach of kids and dogs.
As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org
Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.
In case of emergency/overdose
Too much lidocaine may be taken into your blood if you apply transdermal patches or topical systems with lidocaine too frequently or for too long. You might then encounter signs of an overdose.
Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.
Overdose symptoms could include:
- Lightheadedness
- Nervousness
- Unsuitable happiness
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- An earache that ringers
- Double or blurry vision
- Vomiting
- Feeling scalding, icy, or numb
- You’re twitching or shaking without control.
- Seizures
- Consciousness loss
- Sluggish heartbeat
What other information should I know?
Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.
Do not share your medication with anybody else. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.
You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.
Brand names
- Absorbine Jr® Plus
- Aspercreme Patch®
- Dermalid®
- Lidocare®
- Lidoderm®
- Salonpas®
- Ztlido®
- Synera® (containing lidocaine and tetracaine)
