lidoderm - lidocaine patches - why can i only wear them for 12 hours a day? im in excrusiating pain,?

Question

they dont help much, but they help a little better than not having anything. my doc wont prescribe my pain medication, the only thing she gave me was non-narcotic and it didnt work, i tried it for a few weeks, and had no affect whatsoever.. this is for severe nerve damage in my spinal cord! ive had these patches for 12 hours, but i want to put on 2 more! what will it do if i wear it for 24 hours??

Answer 1

Lidoderm is a patch designed and approved by the FDA for the management of post herpetic neuralgia pain. Many physicians have found additional uses for the patches and use it outside the indication. While this is not unreasonable, and is commonly done, it places the doctor at an increased risk if you have problems associated with the treatment. Therefore, doctors are generally, careful to follow the manufacturers precautions when prescribing outside the indication,

In the case of Lidoderm this is reasonable. The reason for the 12 hours a day, it the amount of lidocaine absorbed systemically over that time period approaches the maximum allowable amount per day. Each person's absorption is different, but as some people have been found to absorb enough to register in the risk range, the limit has been set at 12 hours per day.

If you wear the patch for extended periods you risk the adverse effects of systemic lidocaine overdose. This includes CNS excitability, seizures, respiratory depession and possibly death. There are other less severe risk, but they are too numerous to type at 5am.

Re address your pain issue with your doctor. There are many treatments for neualgia, both medication and nonmedication. Using traditional and nontraditional methods. Also nerve pain is best managed with non-narcotic medications, but there are several and you may need to try several before you find the right medication or combination.

I do understand, I not only work with chronic pain patients, but I also have a chronic neuromuscular condition which causes me nerve pain. There are effective treatments available.

Answer 2

Lidoderm Patch Uses

Answer 3

im wearing toric lenses too and my optometrist told me that they can be worn up to 14 hours a day as the material for (my) toric lenses are better than the normal lenses and allows more oxygen into the eye. Hence, there's no problem wearing it for long hours. remember to blink while reading and watching tv so as to lubricate your eyes. dont stare at the book or tv for too long. :) blinking lubricates the lenses too.