Lidoderm (Lidocaine Patch) As Effective As
Oral Medication- Celebrex; Research finds
ZHION APRIL 2005
Recent literature and animal research has provided insight to potentially new analgesic targets
for managing osteoarthritis (OA) pain. Primary afferent neurons located in affected joints
express excessive amounts of abnormally functioning sodium (Na) channels on their surface in
response to the inflammatory process. These Na channels may play an integral role in
production of pain and hyperalgesia [3]. Researchers at Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. found a
significant improvement for pain intensity, pain relief, and pain interference with quality of life
when lidocaine patch was applied onto the knee directly. The lidocaine patch 5% was generally
well tolerated and no patients discontinued due to treatment-related adverse events.
Osteoarthritis currently affects 20 million people in the United States [2]. Kivitz A J et al with the
Altoona Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, randomly assigned
143 patients to Lidoderm (ie lidocaine patch) once daily or to take Celebrex. After 12 week of
study, 71 percent of those in the Lidoderm group and 72 percent in the celecoxib group
experienced a 30 percent or greater improvement in average daily pain intensity [1].
REFERENCES
[1] Karla Gale, Lidocaine Patch Curbs Osteoarthritis Pain, Reuters Health, Mon Apr 4, 2005
[2] Pain Patch As Effective As Oral Medication , Sci-Tech Today, United Press International,
April 4, 2005
[3] Galer BS et al, Topical lidocaine patch 5% may target a novel underlying pain mechanism in
osteoarthritis., Curr Med Res Opin. 2004 Sep;20(9):1455-8
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