title: Impact of topical 5% lidocaine-medicated plasters on sleep and quality of life in patients with postherpetic neuralgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of 5% lidocaine-medicated plasters on sleep, quality of life and pain in 265 patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
  
  
  METHODS
  An 8-week, open-label arm of a double-blind controlled withdrawal study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients treated with 5% lidocaine had less trouble falling asleep, used less sleep medication, had fewer awakenings due to pain at night or in the morning and their perception of quality of life was improved. The 15 pain descriptors in the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire were improved from baseline to week 8, with a decrease in the proportion of patients reporting 'severe' pain and an increase in the number reporting 'none/mild' pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  5% lidocaine-medicated plasters provide benefits beyond pain relief for patients with postherpetic neuralgia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Pain Research & Therapy, Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Pain Center (PCT), Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hans
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Pain Research & Therapy, Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baron
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000187:drug effects*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine
keywords: lidocaine plasters; pain relief; postherpetic neuralgia; quality of life; sleep improvement; topical therapy