Anyone have any bad experience using this patch? My question is, I was reading up on the patch and it says that it's a "topical" patch but then it goes on to say that a small amount absorbs into the blood stream. How does that happen if it's topical? Does this really work? I have shoulder pain and I am thinking about trying this patch but I'm kind of leary about it and the side effects. Anyone suffer side effects with this? Thanks and have a great holiday!
Question on Lidoderm Patch
- Thread starter Stupify
- Start date
The only common side effect is skin irritation, some people are a little sensitive to the patch. If that happens, then maybe you need a different brand or something. Sometimes, someone is really allergic to the drug and has a worse reaction, but that is quite rare.
Large amounts of lidocaine are not good for you, but that can be said of any drug. Assuming you are wearing one patch at a time and not bathing in the stuff or eating it, the quantity that gets into your bloodstream isn't enough to do much of anything, unless you are actually allergic.
The only thing to keep in mind is, lidocaine is a numbing agent, a cousin of novocaine, which the dentist uses. Don't go out and chop wood just because your shoulder feels better after using it, you still have the injury. You're just more comfortable.
Large amounts of lidocaine are not good for you, but that can be said of any drug. Assuming you are wearing one patch at a time and not bathing in the stuff or eating it, the quantity that gets into your bloodstream isn't enough to do much of anything, unless you are actually allergic.
The only thing to keep in mind is, lidocaine is a numbing agent, a cousin of novocaine, which the dentist uses. Don't go out and chop wood just because your shoulder feels better after using it, you still have the injury. You're just more comfortable.
Some of it soaks through the skin into the rest of your body, most of it stays put in the shoulder.
Which is safer? Well, here's how I see it. With pills, your whole body gets the same amount of medicine, including all the parts that don't need any. With a patch, most of the medicine goes where you need it.
Which is safer? Well, here's how I see it. With pills, your whole body gets the same amount of medicine, including all the parts that don't need any. With a patch, most of the medicine goes where you need it.
Annagram the Eskimoette
New member
Janewhite is right. My husband had tried all manner of anti-inflammatories and pain killers by pill form from Ibuprofen (which caused vomiting and diarrhea for him) to Oxycodone (which made him a bit loopy), and he has been on pain patches for years now with no side effects except when the time is getting near for it to change (he will get a bit fatigued).
If you can tolerate the patch, it really is better for you as far as potential systemic side effects go. Do try to avoid extreme heat (such as being very close to wood stoves or camp fires for any length of time) as that tends to release the medication faster than it should be as we found out with my husband.
Best of luck to you!
Lindaru
If you can tolerate the patch, it really is better for you as far as potential systemic side effects go. Do try to avoid extreme heat (such as being very close to wood stoves or camp fires for any length of time) as that tends to release the medication faster than it should be as we found out with my husband.
Best of luck to you!
Lindaru
glad you are giving the lido patches a try. this is the only thing that helps with one of my pain syndromes,nothing will touch it BUT just numbing it with the lido. when you are using only one patch at a time(the max dose amount is actually three at a time but i have only used two myself,at most)you get a very small trace amount of the drug that actually make it into your bloodstream. this is one med,tho topical,that doesn;t give me any types of actual side effects either,and i am very sensitive to alot of other meds.
i actually started using these back 2003 and have been pretty much on a daily basis since with no real problems to speak of. they just really do help. but what this will actually do for YOUR pain is highly individual and dependant upon just what your true pain generator is. i try them when other pain issues pop up just to see if they will work too. you just never know. i just had a good suggestion for you tho. before you take that backing off,take a scissors and just cut off or round off those corners? this makes it a bit harder for the corner to just catch on your clothing and roll up on you? unfortunetly that can happen. while certain other types of patches you are not supposed to actually cut anywhere or it effects the patch,it is perfectly okay to cut these particular patches in just about any way you need them,just to better fit a particular area. these CAN be cut if needed. sometimes i only really need a smaller little area covered and do cut it in half and store the other half in that blue package it came in but also inside a ziploc bag. it helps keep it still working when you need the other half as long as it doesn;t dry out. that ziploc helps tons.
i do hope you get some relief from these,they really are a lifesaver for me. let us know how they work for you. good luck, FB
i actually started using these back 2003 and have been pretty much on a daily basis since with no real problems to speak of. they just really do help. but what this will actually do for YOUR pain is highly individual and dependant upon just what your true pain generator is. i try them when other pain issues pop up just to see if they will work too. you just never know. i just had a good suggestion for you tho. before you take that backing off,take a scissors and just cut off or round off those corners? this makes it a bit harder for the corner to just catch on your clothing and roll up on you? unfortunetly that can happen. while certain other types of patches you are not supposed to actually cut anywhere or it effects the patch,it is perfectly okay to cut these particular patches in just about any way you need them,just to better fit a particular area. these CAN be cut if needed. sometimes i only really need a smaller little area covered and do cut it in half and store the other half in that blue package it came in but also inside a ziploc bag. it helps keep it still working when you need the other half as long as it doesn;t dry out. that ziploc helps tons.
i do hope you get some relief from these,they really are a lifesaver for me. let us know how they work for you. good luck, FB
latinagrl_88
New member
I'm pretty sensitive to medications...what are some side effects to the patch? Is it dangerous is that topical stuff seeps into the blood stream?
Well, I did try them. I cut it into 3 pieces and it actually felt great! The only thing is, Since I feel relatively back to normal, I found myself using my arm like I did before the injury and I'm wondering if I can damage the injury anymore with the patch on? Also, is it good to wear it at night? That's when I can't sleep because of the pain and sleeping on one side gets tiring! :dizzy:
We found the best time was to wear it was at night. Both husband and myself have used these patches. because of the 12 hour on and 12 hour off you will most likely need another form of pain control such as Ibuprofen. Also the patch shouldn't be put on an open wound. I apparently had some sort of itchy reaction to it and scratched the area during my sleep so hard that I broke the skin and it caused me to have a serious ulceration from the medication on the patch. Also if you use the patch more often than 12 hours off it can cause skin to break down. I think this is a good product but there is a need to understand and follow the directions and I think you would have to also use another form of pain control.
You can take any medication at the same time as wearing the patch if you wish. The patch is a local thing and does not affect your need to take other oral medicines as you need. Just as a dentist uses it to numb the mouth is the same thing. So take all the pain meds or other medicines as directed and at the same time if you need. good luck.