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lidocaine topical vs metoclopramide

Side-by-side comparison of lidocaine topical and metoclopramide. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

moderate Known Drug Interaction

Drugs That May Cause Methemoglobinemia When Used with LIDODERM Patients who are administered local anesthetics are at increased risk of developing methemoglobinemia when concurrently exposed to the following drugs, which could include other local anesthetics: Examples of Drugs Associated with Methemoglobinemia : Class Examples Nitrates/Nitrites nitric oxide, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, nitrous oxide Local anesthetics articaine, benzocaine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine, procaine, ropivacaine, tetracaine Antineoplastic agents cyclophosphamide, flutamide, hydroxyurea,...

Recommendation: Watch for symptoms like a fast heartbeat, headache, or bluish skin color. Tell your healthcare provider if you are using both of these treatments.

Drug Class
lidocaine topical Topical Anesthetic
metoclopramide Prokinetic / Antiemetic
Type
lidocaine topical Prescription
metoclopramide Prescription
Summary
lidocaine topical

Lidoderm is a skin patch that contains the numbing medicine lidocaine. It is used to relieve nerve pain after shingles.

metoclopramide

Metoclopramide is a drug that helps with stomach problems. It can help food move faster through your stomach and reduce nausea.

What It Treats
lidocaine topical

Lidoderm is used to relieve pain caused by post-herpetic neuralgia. This is nerve pain that can happen after you have shingles. The patch should only be applied to skin that is not broken or irritated.

metoclopramide

This medicine treats heartburn caused by acid reflux when other treatments don't work. It also helps with symptoms of slow stomach emptying in people with diabetes, like nausea, vomiting, and feeling full. This medicine is for adults and should not be used for more than 12 weeks.

How It Works
lidocaine topical

Lidoderm contains lidocaine, a local anesthetic. It works by numbing the area where you apply the patch. This reduces pain signals in that area.

metoclopramide

Metoclopramide helps your stomach muscles move faster. This helps food empty from your stomach more quickly. It also blocks a chemical in your brain that causes nausea.

Common Side Effects
lidocaine topical
  • Blisters where you put the patch
  • Bruising where you put the patch
  • Burning feeling where you put the patch
  • Skin color changes where you put the patch
  • Skin irritation where you put the patch
metoclopramide
  • Restlessness
  • Drowsiness
  • Fatigue
  • Feeling tired
FAERS Reports
lidocaine topical

No adverse event reports.

metoclopramide
  • Uncontrollable muscle movements 13,205
  • Movement problems 11,628
  • Problem with the brain or nerves 7,175
  • Muscle spasms 6,661
  • Pain 4,665
Serious Warnings
lidocaine topical

Using Lidoderm with certain drugs can increase the risk of a blood disorder called methemoglobinemia. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you take.

metoclopramide

Metoclopramide can cause a serious movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia. This may not go away even after you stop taking the medicine. The risk of tardive dyskinesia increases with long-term use and high doses. Call your doctor right away if you have uncontrolled muscle movements.

Pregnancy
lidocaine topical

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before using Lidoderm. It is not known if Lidoderm can harm your unborn baby. It is also not known if Lidoderm passes into breast milk.

metoclopramide

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while breastfeeding.

How to Read This lidocaine topical vs metoclopramide Comparison

lidocaine topical is classified in the Topical Anesthetic drug class, while metoclopramide sits within the Prokinetic / Antiemetic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, lidocaine topical has 0 submissions while metoclopramide has 43,334. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these medicines can both lead to a condition where your blood cannot carry oxygen correctly. taking them at the same time increases the risk of this serious blood disorder.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between lidocaine topical and metoclopramide - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.