Compare lidocaine vs. Neurontin
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Treats nerve pain.
Lidoderm (lidocaine) works well to treat nerve pain that is localized to a small area, but its topical application may cause minor skin irritation.
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4.2/ 5 average rating with 18 reviewsforlidocaine
Treats tingling and burning nerve pain.
Neurontin (gabapentin) is an old seizure disorder medicine that is now used to treat nerve-related pain caused by different conditions.
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3.4/ 5 average rating with 620 reviewsforNeurontin
Upsides
- Minimal side-effects compared to other pain relievers since it works locally at the site of application.
- Won't hurt your kidneys or liver unlike other pain relievers.
- Available in many different topical formulations to fit your needs.
- Originally used to treat epilepsy (partial seizures), but now it primarily treats neuropathic pain that's caused by nerve stimulation or damage.
- Studies show it's most effective for nerve pain from diabetes, shingles, and fibromyalgia (a painful muscle condition).
- It's available as a generic, so it's less expensive than similar medications.
Downsides
- Application may cause minor stinging or burning skin irritation.
- Used patches requires proper medication disposal since it still contain enough medicine to be dangerous to children and pets.
- Not a good choice if you've had allergic reactions to numbing medications (local anesthetics) or have a history of irregular heartbeats.
- Neurontin (gabapentin) can cause some side effects, including memory problems, drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion. There is a higher risk for these side effects if you drink alcohol, so it might not be the best medication for heavy drinkers.
- You can't skip or miss doses since suddenly stopping Neurontin (gabapentin) can cause seizures.
Used for
- Local anesthesia
- Nerve pain from shingles
Dosage forms
- Cream
- Gel
- Ointment
- Jelly
- Spray
- Patch
- Lotion
- Topical solution
- Pill
- Oral solution
- Extended release
Price
Lowest price
$648.06
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$599.37
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Reviews
18 reviews so far
67%
saidit'sworth it
72%
saiditworked well
22%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Lidoderm (lidocaine)?
Leave a review620 reviews so far
57%
saidit'sworth it
40%
saiditworked well
19%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Neurontin (gabapentin)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
The Lidoderm (lidocaine) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
20possible side effects
- Dizziness28%
- Drowsiness21%
- Swelling in the limbs8%
- Abnormal physical weakness6%
- Diarrhea6%
- Infection5%
- Dry mouth5%
- Constipation4%
- Nausea4%
- Headache3%
- Accidental injury3%
- Stomach pain3%
- Vomiting3%
- Worse coordination3%
- Thinking abnormal3%
- Decreased vision3%
- Gas2%
- Weight gain2%
- Abnormal gait2%
- Lack of coordination2%
Risks and risk factors
- Overdose
- Use of heating pad on skin
- Applying patch to red, irritated or broken skin
- Leaving patch on for more than 12 hours
- Using patch on a very large area
- Older age
- Smaller patients
- Liver disease
- Accidental poisoning
- Not disposing of Lidoderm (lidocaine) correctly
- Eye irritation
- Not washing hands after touching or applying Lidoderm (lidocaine)
- Skin reactions
- Applying Lidoderm (lidocaine) to warm skin
- Covering patch with wrap or heating pad
- Heart problems
- History of heart problems
- Using Lidoderm (lidocaine) with medications to treat irregular heartbeat
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
- Neurologic and psychiatric side effects (children)
- Children ages 3 to 12
- Serious allergic reaction and multiple organ problems
- Driving impairment
- Taking Neurontin (gabapentin) with alcohol
- Taking other medicines that cause dizziness and/or drowsiness
- Withdrawal seizures
- Stopping Neurontin (gabapentin) suddenly