Lidocaine Patches: Uses, Side Effects, and More - GoodRx (2024)

Lidocaine patches are commonly used to help relieve pain. Since it’s a patch that’s applied to your skin, there’s no need to worry about swallowing pills, pain from injections, or messy gels.

These benefits may make lidocaine patches seem like an ideal choice for pain relief. But it’s important to know if or when they’re right for you. And knowing how to best use lidocaine patches can help prevent side effects.

Below, we’ll discuss what lidocaine patches can be used for, who might benefit from them, and how to use them properly.

What are lidocaine patches used to treat?

Lidocaine patches are generally used to help relieve pain. They work as local anesthetics. This means they numb your nerves in a specific area of your body. That way, you don’t feel as much pain.

Lidocaine patches are easily found over the counter (OTC) at your local pharmacy. These patches contain 4% lidocaine. Some patches might also contain other ingredients, like menthol, to add an extra layer of pain relief. Some common OTC brands of lidocaine patches include Salonpas and Aspercreme.

OTC lidocaine patches can help relieve minor pain conditions, including insect bites, minor burns, and back pain.

But because lidocaine numbs your nerves, these patches might be able to specifically help with neuropathic (nerve) pain. This is pain caused by nerve damage.

Nerve pain is caused by many different conditions, and it can feel different for everyone. Some of the tell-tale signs of nerve pain include:

• Burning or electrical shock sensations

• Prickling, tingling, or “pins-and-needles” sensations

• Shooting pain

• Radiating pain (pain that spreads from one area of the body to another)

• Sensitivity to touch (you feel pain when you touch things that don’t normally cause pain)

In addition to OTC patches, certain lidocaine patches are also available by prescription for a specific and more severe kind of nerve pain. Prescription lidocaine patches — Lidoderm (5% lidocaine) and ZTLido (1.8% lidocaine) — can treat nerve pain related to shingles. This is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Who should use lidocaine patches?

There’s a few things to consider when deciding if lidocaine patches would be a good option for you. It’s always best to check with your healthcare provider before starting any pain relief regimen. They might have a better recommendation for you.

Nerve pain vs. muscle pain

If you have any signs of nerve pain as described in the previous section, lidocaine patches might be right for you.

If your pain is related to swelling (inflammation), like arthritis, lidocaine patches might not be the best option for you. Lidocaine patches don’t work as well to treat that kind of pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve), may be more helpful for pain caused by inflammation.

Pain in one area vs. pain in many areas

Lidocaine patches only work around the area where you’ve placed them. So the patches can be used if you have pain in a specific area of your body.

If your whole body hurts or if it hurts in multiple areas, you might need something else that can help relieve pain all throughout your body. Examples of these medications include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and oral nerve pain medications, like gabapentin (Neurontin) or duloxetine (Cymbalta).

Other considerations

Lidocaine patches might be a convenient option for you if you want to avoid certain forms of medications. Once you place the patch onto your skin, the lidocaine gets absorbed through your skin. This means that you can feel the effects of the medication without having to swallow any pills. This could be helpful if you have trouble swallowing pills.

Lidocaine patches might also be a good option if you find other topical pain medications, such as capsaicin cream or the cream form of lidocaine, too messy to use.

How long do the effects of lidocaine patches last?

The area around the lidocaine patches should feel numb or less painful the entire time you wear them. The pain-relieving effect of lidocaine patches is designed to last for at least 8 to 12 hours, depending on the patch you're wearing. But to limit risks and side effects, you should remove the patches as directed on your prescription label or the OTC packaging.

What are lidocaine patch side effects?

Though uncommon, certain side effects can happen while using lidocaine patches. The most common lidocaine patch side effects are redness, itching, or irritation where you applied the patch.

Some people have also reported the following side effects while using lidocaine patches:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

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• Headache

• Sleepiness

• Flushed skin

• Nausea and vomiting

• Changes in taste (e.g., metallic taste)

• Changes in vision (e.g., blurry or double vision)

• Ringing in the ears

You should speak with your healthcare provider if any side effects occur while using lidocaine patches.

Can I overdose on lidocaine?

When the patches are used according to package instructions, overdosing on lidocaine is rare. This is due to two main reasons. First, the medication works on a specific or small area of the body rather than the entire body. Second, the strength of lidocaine in the patches is low. This means the risk of absorbing toxic levels into your bloodstream is small.

Removing your patches on time and sticking to the recommended maximum wear time help lower the risk of lidocaine overdose.

Signs of a lidocaine overdose include:

• Confusion

• Extreme happiness (euphoria)

• Convulsions or seizures

• Low heart rate

• Trouble breathing

• Cardiac arrest

If any of the above happen to you, call 911. Lidocaine overdoses can be life-threatening.

How should I store and dispose of lidocaine patches?

Lidocaine patches should be kept away from children and pets when not being used. Store them at room temperature. And be sure to keep the patches in their packaged envelopes until you use them.

When you’re ready to apply a patch, remove it from the envelope and peel the plastic liner off the patch. The liner and empty envelopes can be thrown away in your normal trash.

After you’re done with the lidocaine patch, fold it in half so that the adhesive side sticks to itself. Used lidocaine patches can also be discarded in your normal trash. Do not flush the patches down your toilet.

If you have children or pets that may get into your garbage, dispose of patches where they can’t get to them. Lidocaine patches may still have some medication left on them. This could be dangerous if eaten by a pet or child. You could throw the patches away in a trash can that’s out of reach or in another location they can’t access.

What tips should I know about using lidocaine patches?

While lidocaine patches are generally well tolerated and safe, it’s important to use the patches according to your provider’s instructions or the instructions on the box.

The following tips can help make sure you’re using your lidocaine patches properly and safely. They can help you get the most out of the medication, prevent too much lidocaine from being absorbed into your body, and prevent serious side effects from happening.

1. Wash your hands after handling. It’s possible for some lidocaine to get on your fingers while applying a patch or removing it from your skin. Washing your hands helps prevent you from getting lidocaine into your eyes or mouth.

2. Make sure you’re aware of how many patches you can use at one time. Only wear one patch at a time for OTC lidocaine patches. And before you put on a new patch, remember to take off the old one first. For prescription lidocaine patches, follow your healthcare provider’s directions. They may tell you to wear up to three patches at the same time. Don’t apply more than instructed on your prescription label.

3. Be aware of how long you can wear your lidocaine patches each day. Some OTC lidocaine patches can be worn for up to 8 hours. Other OTC patches can be worn for up to 12 hours in one day. You should only wear prescription lidocaine patches for 12 hours during a 24-hour period. This means you should take a 12-hour break before applying a new patch.

4. Don’t expose the patch to water. Wait until you remove the lidocaine patches from your skin before bathing, showering, or swimming to prevent the patches from falling off. If your patch starts to fall off, replace it with a new patch. Just make sure the total length of time you’re exposed to lidocaine doesn’t exceed the 8 or 12 hours recommended for your patch.

5. Avoid using other forms of lidocaine (e.g., cream, gel, roll-on) at the same time as the patch. This can expose your body to too much lidocaine at one time.

6. Don’t place patches on broken or damaged skin (i.e., skin that’s been cut or is bleeding). The medication can get absorbed directly into your bloodstream through these cuts. This can raise the risk of side effects.

7. Don’t cover lidocaine patches tightly with bandages — unless instructed by your provider. This can affect the amount of lidocaine that gets absorbed through your skin.

8. Avoid applying heat pads or electric blankets to where the lidocaine patches are placed on your skin. Though using heat is another way to relieve pain, putting a heat source near or on the patches might change how much lidocaine gets absorbed into your skin.

9. To fit your lidocaine patches to certain areas, you can cut them into smaller pieces. Cutting lidocaine patches won’t affect how they work. You should cut the patch before you remove the plastic liner from the sticky side of the patch.

How to save on lidocaine patches

There are many ways to save on lidocaine patches, which are available as both brand-name and generic medications. By having your healthcare provider write a prescription for OTC lidocaine patches, GoodRx can help you save over 50% off the average retail price. OTC lidocaine patch prices at certain pharmacies are as low as $17.69 with a free GoodRx discount. Prescription-strength lidocaine patch prices are as low as $46.17 with a free GoodRx discount.