Home > Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders > Lidocaine Patch

Definition

Lidocaine belongs to a class of local and topical anesthetic medications. As lidocaine causes a temporary numbness or loss of sensation when injected in the tissues, it is used as a local anesthetic and in the treatment of pain. When given intravenously, lidocaine is also an antiarrythmic agent, capable of correcting some ventricular arrythmias of the heart. The lidocaine patch is a topical treatment that is especially helpful in the treatment of pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia, a condition that can occur after infection with the herpes varicella zoster (shingles) virus. Additionally, the lidocaine patch is sometimes used in the treatment of some chronic forms of nerve pain such as the pain associated with fibromyalgia.

Purpose

The...