Lidocaine 5% patch for localized neuropathic pain: progress for the patient, a new approach for the physician

Neuropathic pain (NeP) syndromes remain a difficult-to-treat medical entity. Despite a growing number of pharmacological and invasive analgesic therapies the results remain less than optimal because of insufficient analgesic efficacy and/or occurrence of pronounced side effects. Current guidelines propose the use of multimodal and balanced pharmacological therapies, focused on the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms (mechanistic approach). Lidocaine 5% patches are a new treatment option currently licensed for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. However, these patches can also be used for the treatment of different types of superficial NeP syndromes, such as diabetic polyneuropathy. Their therapeutic success, however, largely depends on the correct identification of appropriate patients and pain syndromes. This manuscript outlines the correct identification of patients and proper use of these patches in order to ensure as much as possible the therapeutic efficacy of this new treatment option.