Chronic pain treatment with intravenous lidocaine.
In a few uncontrolled studies intravenous lidocaine has been used in the treatment of chronic pain. In a controlled study we used intravenous lidocaine in 18 patients with severe chronic pain states due to various but mainly neurological diseases. After the infusion of lidocaine 14 patients (78%) had significant pain relief ranging from 2 hours to 25 days. There was no significant effect of placebo infusion with isotonic saline. The mechanism of the pain relieving ability of intravenous lidocaine is unknown.
D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008801:Mexiletine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D008801:Mexiletine; D008012:Lidocaine