Administration of low-dose lidocaine infusiontherapy was effective at providing short-term relief to patients with refractory neuropathic pain, and pain relief was more pronounced when repeated infusions were administered to patients. This research will be presented at the 17th World Congress on Pain in Boston, Massachusetts.
The prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel study evaluated the efficacy and safety of repeated low-dose lidocaine infusion therapy used to treat 42 patients with postherpetic neuralgia or complex regional pain syndrome type 2. Participants were given 4 consecutive infusions of 3 mg/kg of lidocaine and normal saline (control) infusions administrated for 60 minutes at 1-week intervals. Pain was scored at baseline, final infusion, and follow-up using the 11-point numerical rating scale.
In patients with neuropathic pain conditions, low-dose lidocaine infusion therapy was found to be an effective treatment for short-term pain relief. Repeated infusions substantially reduced pain scores, but were not sustained in the long term.
Reference
Song H, Yoo Y, Kim E, Lee C, Moon J, Kim Y. Efficacy and safety of lidocaine infusion treatment for neuropathic pain: a randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled study. Presented at: The 17th World Congress on Pain; September 12-16, 2018; Boston, MA.