What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using the
lidocaine patch (Lidoderm
® patch) if you have:
- Liver disease or liver failure
- Any allergies, including allergies to medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:
- Are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Are breastfeeding
- Have had recent heart surgery.
You should also make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Lidocaine Patch Warnings and Precautions
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of with this product include:
- Even used patches contain a fairly large dosage of lidocaine, enough to cause serious harm if ingested. Therefore, be sure to keep all lidocaine patches (including used patches) out of the reach of children or pets.
- Using lidocaine for more than 12 hours a day and/or using more patches than prescribed can result in serious toxicity. Make sure to follow your healthcare provider's directions closely, and do not forget to remove lidocaine patches.
- People with liver disease have an increased risk for serious side effects of the lidocaine patch, as they do not effectively metabolize lidocaine (the active ingredient in the patches). The lidocaine patch may not be a good option for people with liver disease.
- Do not apply lidocaine to broken or inflamed skin, as increased drug absorption may occur (increasing the risk of serious side effects).
- Do not apply heat (such as from a heating pad or electric blanket) over a lidocaine patch, as this may increase drug absorption, increasing the risk of serious side effects.
- Avoid contact with the eye, as severe irritation may occur.
- The lidocaine patch can interact with certain medications (see Drug Interactions With the Lidocaine Patch).
- The lidocaine patch is a pregnancy Category B medicine, meaning that it is probably safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are currently unknown (see Lidoderm and Pregnancy for more information).
- Lidocaine passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding a child, check with your healthcare provider (or your child's healthcare provider) before using lidocaine (see Lidoderm and Breastfeeding).
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