Lidoderm

Lidoderm is a prescription medication used to relieve pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia. Painful symptoms of post-herpetic neuralgia may include burning, stabbing pain, and aches.

Lidoderm belongs to a group of drugs called local anesthetics. These work by stopping nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.

This medication comes in a patch that is applied to the skin. Up to 3 patches may be applied at once and the patches may be left in place for up to 12 hours per day.

Common side effects of Lidoderm include burning, discomfort, redness, or swelling of the skin where the patch is applied.

Lidoderm can also cause blurred vision, drowsiness, and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Lidoderm affects you.

Lidoderm is a prescription medication used to relieve pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia. Painful symptoms of post-herpetic neuralgia may include burning, stabbing pain, and aches.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Lidoderm. See the “Lidoderm Precautions” section.

The most common side effect of Lidoderm is an application site reaction. During or immediately after treatment with Lidoderm, the skin at the site of application may develop blisters, bruising, burning sensation, changes in skin pigmentation, itching, discoloration, swelling, redness, or irritation. These reactions are generally mild and do not last long. They often resolve spontaneously within a few minutes to hours.

This is not a complete list of Lidoderm side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

Any medications applied to the skin or taken by mouth to treat pain

• disopyramide (Norpace)
• flecainide (Tambocor)
• mexiletine (Mexitil)
• moricizine (Ethmozine)
• procainamide (Procanabid, Pronestyl)
• propafenone (Rhythmol)
• quinidine (Quinidex)
• tocainide (Tonocard)

This is not a complete list of Lidoderm drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Lidoderm. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• hives
• skin rash
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• hoarseness
• cool, moist skin
• fast pulse or breathing
• unusual thirst
• nausea
• vomiting
• confusion
• weakness
• fainting

Lidoderm can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Lidoderm affects you.

Do not take Lidoderm if you are allergic to Lidoderm or to any of its ingredients or you are allergic to any other local anesthetics such as bupivacaine (Marcaine), etidocaine (Duranest), mepivacaine (Carbocaine, Prolocaine), or prilocaine (Citanest).

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Lidoderm, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Lidoderm, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic Lidoderm or to any of its ingredients or you are allergic to any other local anesthetics such as bupivacaine (Marcaine), etidocaine (Duranest), mepivacaine (Carbocaine, Prolocaine), or prilocaine (Citanest)
• have or have had liver problems
• have or have had heart problems
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X - are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Lidoderm falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Lidoderm. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Lidoderm has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Lidoderm, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Take Lidoderm exactly as prescribed.

This medication comes in a patch that is applied to the skin. Up to 3 patches may be applied at once and the patches may be left in place for up to 12 hours per day.

To apply the patches, follow these steps:

• Look at the skin that you plan to cover with a Lidoderm patch. If the skin is broken or blistered, do not apply a patch to that area.
• Use scissors to remove the outer seal from the package. Pull apart the zipper seal.
• Remove the appropriate number of patches from the package and press the zipper seal tightly together. The remaining patches may dry out if the zipper seal is not tightly closed.
• Cut patch(es) to the size and shape that will cover your most painful area.
• Peel the transparent liner off the back of the patch(es).
• Press the patch(es) firmly onto your skin. If you are applying a patch to your face, be careful not to let it touch your eyes. If you do get Lidoderm in your eye, wash it with plenty of water or saline solution.
• Wash your hands after handling Lidoderm.

Do not reuse Lidoderm. After you are finished using a patch, remove it and dispose of it out of reach of children and pets. Used patches contain enough medication to seriously harm a child or pet.

Avoid contact with water, such as bathing, swimming or showering.

Lidoderm is usually used as needed. If your doctor has told you to use Lidoderm patches regularly, use the missed patch as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed patch and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not use a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication

The recommended dose Lidoderm for the treatment of pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia is up to 3 patches to cover the most painful areas of skin applied for up to 12 hours within a 24-hour period.

If you take too much Lidoderm, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If Lidoderm is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

Store Lidoderm at room temperature.

Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.