[Localized neuropathic pain--5% lidocaine medicated patch as a first-line treatment and as add-on therapy: literature review and personal experience]

Minerva Med. 2014 Jun;105(3):177-95.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

Localized neuropathic pain (LNP) is a type of neuropathic pain characterized by consistent and circumscribed area(s) of maximum pain, which are associated with negative or positive sensory signs and/or spontaneous symptoms typical of neuropathic pain. This description outlines the clinical features of a group of pathologies, in which a LNP can be diagnosed and for whom topical targeted treatment with 5% Lidocaine medicated plaster can be suggested. Indeed both American as well as European guidelines already suggest 5% Lidocaine medicated plaster as a first line treatment in post herpetic neuralgia and in general in the treatment of conditions such as diabetic painful polyneuropathy and post surgical pain where a LNP can be ascertain. In a daily practice of a Pain Unit however the usual case mix encompasses also other causes of LNP, most of them with a scanty pain control in spite of a ongoing polytherapy. Aims of this paper were to focus on 5% Lidocaine medicated plaster as a first line treatment in LNP and to add new insight on its possible use as add-on therapy reporting our data on a consecutive series of 42 patients affected by LNP under unsatisfactory polytherapy in which 5% Lidocaine medicated plaster was able to achieve a satisfactory pain control.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lidocaine / administration & dosage*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuralgia / diagnosis*
  • Neuralgia / drug therapy*
  • Neuralgia / etiology
  • Neuralgia / physiopathology
  • Pain Management / methods*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Transdermal Patch*

Substances

  • Anesthetics, Local
  • Lidocaine