Prescription medication · Topical Anesthetic

lidocaine topical

Also sold as Lidoderm. Lidoderm is used to relieve pain caused by post-herpetic neuralgia.

Data updated 2026-05-15

10
InteractionsSeveral interactions
In shortage
FDA status

What the data shows

lidocaine topical (Lidoderm) is a prescription Topical Anesthetic, with 10 documented drug interactions.

Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.

lidocaine topical (Lidoderm) is a prescription Topical Anesthetic. Lidoderm is used to relieve pain caused by post-herpetic neuralgia.

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

Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →

Drug Shortage Alert

lidocaine topical is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Sintetica US. Status: Available.

View all drug shortages →

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Generic Price

$0.09/unit

Generic Available

Yes (72 manufacturers)

Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

NADAC price trail: LIDOCAINE 2% VISCOUS SOLN

Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (3 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -5.4% vs prior release.

8.5¢9¢9.5¢10¢ 2024-022024-102024-12 9.35¢
Effective NADAC / unit vs prior NDCs
February 21, 2024 $0.0878/ML - 1
October 23, 2024 $0.0988/ML +12.6% 1
December 18, 2024 $0.0935/ML -5.4% 5
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What it does

Lidoderm is used to relieve pain caused by post-herpetic neuralgia.

Common side effects

Blisters where you put the patch, Bruising where you put the patch, Burning feeling where you put the patch

Key warnings

Using Lidoderm with certain drugs can increase the risk of a blood disorder called methemoglobinemia.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from lidocaine topical's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

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

Serious Warnings

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

Known Drug Interactions

moderate acetaminophen

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,...

Mechanism: Both of these drugs can change how your red blood cells carry oxygen, which might lead to a rare but serious blood condition.

moderate nitrofurantoin

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,...

Mechanism: Both drugs can cause a blood problem that makes it hard for your body to get enough oxygen. Using them together increases the risk of this serious condition.

moderate valproate

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,...

Mechanism: These medications can both lead to a rare blood disorder that prevents oxygen from moving through your body. Taking them at the same time makes this side effect more likely.

moderate chloroquine

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,...

Mechanism: Both drugs can interfere with how your blood carries oxygen, which can lead to a dangerous health issue. Combining them makes this problem more likely to happen.

moderate mexiletine

Drug Interactions Antiarrhythmic Drugs LIDODERM should be used with caution in patients receiving Class I antiarrhythmic drugs (such as tocainide and mexiletine) since the toxic effects are additive and potentially synergistic.

Mechanism: These drugs have similar effects on the body, so taking them together can cause their toxic side effects to build up. This makes the risk of a bad reaction much higher than taking just one.

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This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

Can I use more than 3 patches at once?
No, do not use more than 3 patches at a time.
How long should I wear the patch?
Wear the patch for up to 12 hours within a 24 hour period.
Can I cut the patch if it's too big?
Yes, you can cut the patch into smaller sizes with scissors.
Can I get the patch wet?
Lidoderm may not stick if it gets wet. Avoid contact with water, such as bathing, swimming, or showering.
What should I do with used patches?
Fold used patches so the sticky side sticks to itself. Throw them away where children and pets cannot get to them.
What if the patch causes irritation?
If you get irritation or a burning feeling, take off the patch. Do not put another patch on until the irritation goes away.
Can I use other numbing medicines with Lidoderm?
Tell your doctor if you are using other products that contain numbing medicines. The amount of medicine absorbed from all products must be considered.
What if a child swallows or touches a Lidoderm patch?
Lidoderm should be kept out of the reach of children. Seek medical attention immediately.
Who should not use Lidoderm?
You should not take this if you are allergic to numbing medicines of the amide type, or to any other ingredient in the patch.
What if I miss a dose?
Apply the patch as soon as you remember, but do not wear it for more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period.
What are the common side effects of lidocaine topical?
The registry lists 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 among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for lidocaine topical. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does lidocaine topical interact with other medications?
The registry has 10 documented interaction rows for lidocaine topical. Notable source-record pairings include acetaminophen, nitrofurantoin, valproate. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is lidocaine topical?
lidocaine topical belongs to the Topical Anesthetic drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Lidoderm is used to relieve pain caused by post-herpetic neuralgia.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for lidocaine topical?
The FDA label for lidocaine topical contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.
Is lidocaine topical currently in shortage?
Yes, lidocaine topical is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Sintetica US. Status: Available. Visit the FDA Drug Shortages database for the latest updates.

Related Medications in Topical Anesthetic

Other drugs grouped near lidocaine topical - same-class peers and common alternatives.

abatacept

Orencia

Orencia is a medicine that helps to reduce inflammation.

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acetaminophen

Tylenol

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a medicine that can relieve pain and reduce fever.

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acetaminophen/hydrocodone

Vicodin, Norco

This medicine contains acetaminophen and hydrocodone.

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acetaminophen/oxycodone

Percocet

Percocet is a strong pain medicine.

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adalimumab

Humira

Idacio is a medicine that blocks a protein called TNF.

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What the FDA Data Shows for lidocaine topical

The FDA label for lidocaine topical (sold under brand names such as Lidoderm) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Topical Anesthetic class. Lidoderm is used to relieve pain caused by post-herpetic neuralgia. Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Blisters where you put the patch, Bruising where you put the patch, Burning feeling where you put the patch.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 10 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.09.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: December 2, 2022

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page