The lidocaine patch is a prescription medication that is indicated for the alleviation of painful post-herpetic neuralgia symptoms--more commonly referred to as post-shingles pain. This medication is applied as a transdermal skin patch directly to the site of pain. Talk with your doctor about the potential adverse effects of a lidocaine patch before you choose to begin treatment with this form of medication.
Application Site Reaction
The most frequent adverse effect of a lidocaine patch is a skin reaction at the site of the application. You may experience abnormal skin sensations, such as burning, tingling or pain near the application site during or immediately after using a lidocaine patch. A skin rash can also develop, causing your skin to appear red, discolored or swollen. Certain patients develop fluid-filled skin lesions at the lidocaine patch application side, which may be tender to the touch. Use of this medication may also cause treated skin regions to become itchy, dry or flaky, warn health officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Typically, these application site reactions resolve within a few minutes or hours following treatment. Continuous use of a lidocaine patch for more than 12 hours a day is not recommended as such usage can result in severe skin reactions.
Headache or Dizziness
While using a lidocaine patch for pain relief, you can develop a headache or sensations of dizziness as adverse effects of treatment. Dizziness or lightheadedness can significantly interfere with your ability to move about normally and can occur in conjunction with vision changes or confusion, warns Drugs.com, a peer-reviewed drug information website intended for consumers. Persistent dizziness can be indicative of a severe adverse reaction to the lidocaine patch and should be immediately reported to your doctor.
Stomach Upset
You can experience a mild upset stomach as an adverse effect of using a lidocaine patch. Nausea is the most commonly reported stomach-related side effect of lidocaine treatment, explains the FDA. Contact your doctor immediately if you begin to vomit during treatment with this medication.
Breathing or Heartbeat Irregularities
Breathing difficulties or heartbeat irregularities can occur as severe adverse effects of lidocaine patch usage. If you experience shortness of breath, shallow breathing, or an unusually fast or slow heart rate during lidocaine treatment, contact your doctor immediately for further evaluation and care.
Muscle Twitching
Abnormal muscle twitching, tremors or convulsions may arise in certain patients during lidocaine patch treatment. These severe adverse effects should be reported to your doctor as soon as possible to prevent further medical complications.
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