Uses
What the official label says Lidocaine (topical: patch, cream, ointment) is used for
Lidocaine is a local anesthetic, a medicine that numbs the skin. The official label provided here is for a prescription lidocaine skin patch.
The label says the patch is used to relieve pain from post-herpetic neuralgia, which is nerve pain that can continue after shingles. The label says it should be applied only to unbroken skin. Lidocaine creams and ointments have their own labels.
Read the label's “Indications and usage” section (verbatim)
Lidocaine patch 5% is indicated for relief of pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia. It should be applied only to intact skin.
Names & forms
Brand names, forms and strengths
Brand names (from RxNorm; not every brand is still sold): Alocane, AneCream, Bio-Kool, Bruselix, Burn Jel Plus, Comfortcaine, Cutiecaine, Derma Numb, Glydo, Hexa-Caine, Kool-Down, LMX, Lido King, Lidocan, Lidocare and 15 more.
Generic name: lidocaine · RxNorm ID (RxCUI): 6387
| Form | Strengths listed in RxNorm |
|---|---|
| Medicated Patch | 0.018 MG/MG, 0.035 MG/MG, 0.04 MG/MG, 0.0488 MG/MG, 0.05 MG/MG |
| Topical Cream | 20 MG/ML, 30 MG/ML, 32.5 MG/ML, 37.5 MG/ML, 38.8 MG/ML, 39 MG/ML, 40 MG/ML, 41.2 MG/ML, 50 MG/ML |
| Topical Gel | 0.005 MG/MG, 0.008 MG/MG, 0.01 MG/MG, 0.015 MG/MG, 0.02 MG/MG, 0.025 MG/MG, 0.028 MG/MG, 0.03 MG/MG, 0.0388 MG/MG, 0.04 MG/MG, 0.05 MG/MG |
| Topical Lotion | 10 MG/ML, 15 MG/ML, 27.5 MG/ML, 30 MG/ML, 35 MG/ML, 40 MG/ML |
| Topical Ointment | 0.025 MG/MG, 0.04 MG/MG, 0.05 MG/MG |
| Topical Solution | 20 MG/ML, 25 MG/ML, 30 MG/ML, 40 MG/ML, 50 MG/ML |
| Topical Spray | 5 MG/ML, 10 MG/ML, 20 MG/ML, 24.6 MG/ML, 25 MG/ML, 40 MG/ML, 41.2 MG/ML, 50 MG/ML, 80 MG/ML, 100 MG/ML, 350 MG/ML |
Strengths are listed so you can recognise a product — not as dosing information. Only your prescriber can decide what is right for you.
Appearance
What Lidocaine (topical: patch, cream, ointment) looks like
The DailyMed product data we retrieved does not include colour or shape details for Lidocaine (topical: patch, cream, ointment) (common for topical products). Appearance varies by manufacturer — your pharmacist can confirm what yours should look like.
Read the label's “How supplied” section (verbatim)
Lidocaine patch 5% is available as the following: Carton of 30 patches...........................................................................................NDC 82347-0505-5 (packaged in individual child-resistant envelopes) Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. For more information, call YARAL Pharma, Inc. at 1-866-218-9009. Marketed by: YARAL Pharma, Inc. Pasippany, NJ 07054, USA Manufactured by: Altergon Italia Srl Zona Industriale ASI, Morra de Sanctis Avellino, 83040, Italy Revised 12/2022
Safety
Important warnings for Lidocaine (topical: patch, cream, ointment)
In plain English, the label's key warnings include:
- The label warns that local anesthetics, including lidocaine, have been linked to methemoglobinemia, a blood problem that can cause bluish skin and may lead to seizures, coma, heart rhythm problems, and death.
- People with G6PD deficiency, heart or lung problems, infants under 6 months, and people exposed to certain other medicines are more likely to have this problem.
- Even a used patch contains a large amount of lidocaine, and the label warns that a small child or pet could be seriously harmed by chewing or swallowing one. It says patches should be stored and thrown away out of reach of children and pets.
- Using the patch on larger areas or for longer than directed can lead to high blood levels of lidocaine and serious side effects.
Contraindications — who should not use it (verbatim)
Lidocaine patch 5% is contraindicated in patients with a known history of sensitivity to local anesthetics of the amide type, or to any other component of the product.
Warnings and precautions (verbatim excerpt)
Risk of Methemoglobinemia Cases of methemoglobinemia have been reported in association with local anesthetic use. Although all patients are at risk for methemoglobinemia, patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, congenital or idiopathic methemoglobinemia, cardiac or pulmonary compromise, infants under 6 months of age, and concurrent exposure to oxidizing agents or their metabolites are more susceptible to developing clinical manifestations of the condition. If local anesthetics must be used in these patients, close monitoring for symptoms and signs of methemoglobinemia is recommended. Signs of methemoglobinemia may occur immediately or may be delayed some hours after exposure, and are characterized by a cyanotic skin discoloration and/or abnormal coloration of the blood. Methemoglobin levels may continue to rise; therefore, immediate treatment is required to avert more serious central nervous system and cardiovascular adverse effects, including seizures, coma, arrhythmias, and death. Discontinue lidocaine patch 5% and any other oxidizing agents. Depending on the severity of the signs and symptoms, patients may respond to supportive care, i.e., oxygen therapy, hydration. A more severe clinical presentation may require treatment with methylene blue, exchange transfusion, or hyperbaric oxygen. Accidental Exposure in Children Even a used lidocaine patch 5% contains a large amount of lidocaine (at least 665 mg). The potential exists for a small child or a pet to suffer serious adverse effects from chewing or ingesting a new or used lidocaine patch 5%, although the risk with this formulation has not been evaluated. It is important for patients to store and dispose of lidocaine patch 5% out of the reach of children, pets, and others (see HANDLING AND DISPOSAL). Excessive Dosing Excessive dosing by applying lidocaine patch 5% to larger areas or for longer than the recommended wearing time could result in increased absorption of lidocaine and high blood concentrations, leading to serious adverse effects (see ADVERSE REACTIONS, Systemic Reactions). Lidocaine toxicity could be expected at lidocaine blood concentrations above 5 mcg/mL. The blood concentration of lidocaine is determined by the rate of systemic absorption and elimination. Longer duration of application, application of more than the recommended number of patches, smaller patients, or impaired elimination may all contribute to increasing the blood concentration of lidocaine. With recommended dosing of lidocaine patch 5%, the average peak blood concentration is about 0.13 mcg/mL, but concentrations higher than 0.25 mcg/mL have been observed in some individuals.
Side effects — opening of the label's adverse reactions section
Application Site Reactions During or immediately after treatment with lidocaine patch 5%, the skin at the site of application may develop blisters, bruising, burning sensation, depigmentation, dermatitis, discoloration, edema, erythema, exfoliation, irritation, papules, petechia, pruritus, vesicles, or may be the locus of abnormal sensation. These reactions are generally mild and transient, resolving spontaneously within a few minutes to hours. Allergic Reactions Allergic and anaphylactoid reactions associated with lidocaine, although rare, can occur. They are characterized by angioedema, bronchospasm, dermatitis, dyspnea, hypersensitivity, laryngospasm, pruritus, shock, and urticaria. If they occur, they should be managed by conventional means. The detection of sensitivity by skin testing is of doubtful value. …
Drug interactions — opening of the label's section
Antiarrhythmic Drugs Lidocaine patch 5% should be used with caution in patients receiving Class I antiarrhythmic drugs (such as tocainide and mexiletine) since the toxic effects are additive and potentially synergistic. Local Anesthetics When lidocaine patch 5% is used concomitantly with other products containing local anesthetic agents, the amount absorbed from all formulations must be considered. Drugs That May Cause Methemoglobinemia When Used with Lidocaine Patch 5% Patients who are administered local anesthetics are at increased risk of developing methemoglobinemia when concurrently exposed to the following drugs, which could include other local anesthetics: Examples of Drugs Associated with Methemoglobinemia: Class Examples Nitrates/Nitrites nitric oxide, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, nitrous oxide Local anesthetics articaine, benzocaine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, priloc …
This is not a complete list of warnings or side effects. Read the full label and talk to your prescriber or pharmacist. To report a side effect to the FDA, use MedWatch.
Resources
If you were hurt at work
Whether a medicine is right for you is a decision for your prescriber. If you were injured on the job, these educational guides explain the next steps and who can help.
- Injured at work? →What to do after a workplace injury and how workers' comp generally works.
- Prescription home delivery →How mail-order pharmacies can deliver prescriptions to your door.
- Find help →Connect with workers' comp attorneys and doctors who take work-injury cases.
- Pharmacies near you →Search local pharmacies by ZIP code.