• Medicated plaster (10x14cm) containing 700mg (5% w/w) of lidocaine.
• Brands include Versatis and Ralvo.

A palliative care specialist may recommend lidocaine plasters for:

• localised †neuropathic pain (particularly associated with allodynia) that is unresponsive to opioids and adjuvant analgesics
• locally painful bone †metastases unresponsive to standard treatments (paracetamol, opioids, adjuvant analgesics, radiotherapy) or when standard treatments are inappropriate, poorly tolerated or contra-indicated
• short term treatment of localised, severe uncontrolled bone or neuropathic pain, while adjuvant analgesics are being titrated.

• Do not apply the plaster to inflamed, broken or infected skin or to wounds.
• Use with caution in patients with severe cardiac disease; elimination may be delayed in patients with severe renal or liver impairment.

Drug interactions

Use with caution in patients receiving a Class I anti-arrhythmic drug (for example QTflecainide).

Side effects

• Application site reactions including erythema, rash and pruritus are common.
• Systemic allergic reactions have been reported but are very rare.

Starting a lidocaine plaster

• Remove any hairs with scissors; do not shave the area.
• Plasters can be cut to size before the backing is removed without affecting drug delivery.
• Apply one plaster directly over the painful area for up to 12 hours in each 24 hour period. The plaster free interval may reduce the risk of skin reactions. However, some patients may benefit from the patch being applied for 24 hours.
• The plaster site should be specified on the prescription chart and on the monitoring sheet.
• A new plaster is applied every 24 hours.

Titration

• The dose is titrated to give adequate analgesia (up to a maximum of three plasters) depending on the number and size of the painful site or sites. After initiation of treatment review after 48 hours and document on monitoring sheet.
• Monitor the patient’s pain and other analgesics; these may need to be reduced if the pain responds well to lidocaine.
• A used plaster should be folded over and can then be put in the sharps bin or household waste.

Pain assessment

• A 0 to 10 pain scale should be used to assess the patient’s pain now and over the past
  24 hours.
• Record the pain scores on the monitoring sheet before the plaster is applied and after 48 hours.

Review of lidocaine plaster

• There is limited evidence for use of lidocaine plaster. Regular reviews should be undertaken. 
• Most patients will respond within 2 weeks; discontinue the plaster if no benefit.
• It is often possible to discontinue the plaster without the pain recurring as the local effect on nerve endings persists after the plaster is removed.
• If the pain responds, try a plaster-free period after 7 days of plaster use.
• Remove the lidocaine plaster(s) for at least 24 hours and assess the patient.
• If the pain returns or worsens, restart the lidocaine plaster.
• If the patient remains pain free or with stable pain, discontinue the lidocaine plaster.
• Continued treatment - reassess with a further plaster-free trial on a monthly basis to determine whether the number of plasters needed to cover the painful area can be reduced, or if the plaster‑free period can be extended.

Monitoring

• A monitoring sheet is recommended for each patient started on a lidocaine plaster.
• If a lidocaine plaster is being used for more than one pain site, a separate monitoring sheet should be completed for each site.
• The monitoring sheet should be updated each time the patient is assessed.
• Check the skin site – if a local reaction occurs, the plaster may need to be stopped.

Derry S, P.J. W, Moore RA, Quinlan J. Topical lidocaine for neuropathic pain in adults. 2014 [cited 2018 Oct 08]; Available from: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010958.pub2/epdf/standard

Galer BS, Rowbotham MC, Perander J, Friedman E. Topical lidocaine patch relieves postherpetic neuralgia more effectively than a vehicle topical patch: results of an enriched enrollment study. Pain. 1999;80(3):533-8.

Gammaitoni AR, Davis MW. Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of lidocaine patch 5% with extended dosing. Ann Pharmacother. 2002;36(2):236-40.

Meier T, Wasner G, Faust M, Kuntzer T, Ochsner F, Hueppe M, et al. Efficacy of lidocaine patch 5% in the treatment of focal peripheral neuropathic pain syndromes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Pain. 2003;106(1-2):151-8.

Rowbotham MC, Davies PS, Verkempinck C, Galer BS. Lidocaine patch: double-blind controlled study of a new treatment method for post-herpetic neuralgia. Pain. 1996;65(1):39-44.