What is the Lidoderm Patch?

The Lidoderm patch is a large fabric patch made with an adhesive material that contains 5 percent Lidocaine. Lidocaine is an anesthetic medicine that prevents pain by blocking signals at the nerve endings in the skin. The Lidoderm patch is prescribed to people who had shingles, also known as herpes zoster.

After shingles blisters heal and go away, people often experience pain called post-herpetic neuralgia. This extreme burning pain stems from damaged nerve fibers and skin. The Lidoderm Patch temporarily relieves this pain by delivering Lidocaine directly into the affected skin areas. Lidoderm Patch will not eliminate the pain completely, but it does offer reprieve from post-herpetic neuralgia.

The Lidoderm Patch does not contain any narcotics, nor is it addictive. You may require a different prescription medication if shingles affected your head or face.

Conditions treated by the Lidoderm Patch

If a person had chickenpox when young, the virus never actually leaves the body; instead it becomes dormant in the nervous system. Many people are never affected again with the awakening of this virus, called varicella-zoster. Others, however, can find that the virus can be triggered and woken to cause shingles. If you have never had chickenpox and have close contact with someone that has active blisters from shingles, you can possibly get chickenpox.

Shingles begins with a tingling sensation, itching, or sensitivity to clothing as it touches your skin; this happens before the rash appears. The rash can appear on only one side of your body and spreads along lines of your nervous system to form a band of irritated, red skin that will become blistered, either around or above your waist, on your face, or on your neck. You are considered contagious from the time the rash appears until the blisters pop and crust over.

What to know before using the Lidoderm Patch

• Discuss other health conditions you have and provide your doctor with a list of all current over-the-counter and prescription medications you use, including herbal and vitamin supplements.
• Before applying a Lidoderm Patch ask your doctor about any risks if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
• Use the Lidoderm patch only on intact skin after the blisters have healed and cleared up.
• Follow the doctor's instructions carefully so you don’t place too many Lidoderm Patches at once.
• Keep Lidoderm Patches out of the reach of children and pets.
• Learn the safe and proper way of discarding a used Lidoderm Patch.
• Do not place a hot water bottle, heating pad, or electric blanket on the area being treated with a Lidoderm Patch or you can risk an increase in side effects.
• Notify your doctor if you experience any lidocaine side effects.

Possible Lidoderm Patch side effects

As with all prescription drugs, there are potential side effects of the Lidoderm Patch.

Some people may experience:

• Irritation
• Redness
• Numbness
• Burning sensation
• Drowsiness
• Blurred vision