Lidocaine Patch 5%, Transdermal

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is put on the skin to relieve pain caused by shingles. Use it exactly as directed.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: anesthetic

Generic and brand names: lidocaine patch 5%, transdermal; Lidoderm Patch

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is an anesthetic that comes on a patch to be placed on the skin. The patches are used to relieve pain caused by herpes zoster (shingles).

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• Liver disease

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Follow your healthcare provider's directions exactly. Using too many patches at one time or leaving them on too long may lead to harmful side effects.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children under age 18.

Keep the patches away from your eyes. If some of the medicine gets into your eyes, rinse them with plenty of cool water.

Wash your hands before and after using this medicine. Apply the medicine patch as soon as it is removed from the protective pouch. Keep the pouch sealed when not in use.

Apply a patch to unbroken skin in the most painful area. Do not put patches on open wounds or broken or inflamed skin. Do not use more than 3 patches at one time, and do not leave them on for more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period. You may wear clothing over the patches.

Do not use a heating pad, electric blanket, heat lamp, hot tub, or other direct heat where you apply the patch. These may increase the amount of medicine released from the patch and could result in an overdose.

You may cut a patch into smaller pieces with scissors before you remove the clear plastic on the sticky side of the patch. Using part of a patch may lessen the risk of side effects in some people.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and use the next one as directed. Do not use double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: drowsiness, confusion, blurred vision, numbness, muscle twitches, irregular heartbeat, seizures, slow breathing, coma.

What should I watch out for?

If you feel irritation or burning while you are wearing the patches, remove them and keep them off until the irritation is gone.

Used patches contain enough medicine to cause serious harm to children or pets if they chew or swallow a patch. Fold each used patch so that it sticks to itself with the medicine inside. Then dispose of it safely away from children and pets.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine. The patch may need to be removed before certain tests, such as MRIs.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Confusion, dizziness, fainting, irregular heartbeat, blurred vision, tremors, ringing in your ears, numbness or tingling.

Other: Redness and swelling at the site of the patch (which usually goes away in a short time), headache, nausea, change in sense of taste, nervousness, flushing.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Antiarrhythmic medicines (to treat irregular heartbeat) such as disopyramide (Norpace), flecainide, mexiletine, procainamide, propafenone (Rythmol), and quinidine
• Other anesthetics such as benzocaine (Americaine), lidocaine/prilocaine (EMLA) or other lidocaine products such as Xylocaine or LMX, and pramoxine (Tronothane)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.