Key takeaways
Lidocaine patches (Lidoderm) and gabapentin (Neurontin) are both medications that can be used to reduce nerve pain, but they work differently. As a local anesthetic, lidocaine patches are used to reduce nerve pain from shingles and numb painful areas, while gabapentin is an antiepileptic used to treat certain seizures and nerve pain. Lidocaine patch is applied topically to the skin and works by numbing the nerves in the affected area, whereas gabapentin is taken orally and works by calming the nerves in the brain. Lidocaine patch comes as a lower-cost generic, with both prescription and over-the-counter options available, and is applied to the skin for up to 12 hours at a time. Gabapentin also has a lower-cost generic but is only available by prescription and needs to be taken multiple times a day. While rare, lidocaine patch can cause serious side effects if overused, such as heart rhythm problems and seizures, while gabapentin can cause dizziness, sleepiness, and in rare cases, suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
