Lidoderm vs. Voltaren Gel

• Are Lidoderm and Voltaren Gel the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Lidoderm?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Voltaren Gel?
• What is Lidoderm?
• What is Voltaren Gel?
• What Drugs Interact with Lidoderm?
• What Drugs Interact with Voltaren Gel?
• How Should Lidoderm Be Taken?
• How Should Voltaren Gel Be Taken?

Lidoderm (lidocaine patch 5%) and Voltaren Gel (diclofenac sodium topical gel) are both topical medications used to relieve different types of pain.

Lidoderm is used to relieve nerve pain after shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia).

Voltaren Gel is used to treat pain of osteoarthritis of joints that are amenable to topical treatment, such as the hands and knees.

Lidoderm and Voltaren Gel belong to different drug classes. Lidoderm is a local anesthetic Voltaren Gel is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Common side effects of Lidoderm include:

• irritation,
• redness,
• swelling,
• blisters,
• numbness, or
• changes in skin color at the site of application.

Contact your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Lidoderm including

• irregular heartbeats,
• drowsiness,
• confusion, tremors,
• seizures (convulsions), or
• blurred vision.

Common side effects of Voltaren Gel include:

• nausea,
• stomach pain,
• upset stomach,
• diarrhea,
• gas,
• ulcers, or
• itching,
• dryness,
• redness,
• scaling,
• numbness and tingling,
• cysts,
• pimples, or other
• skin irritation where the medicine was applied.

Lidoderm (lidocaine patch 5%) is a local anesthetic used to relieve nerve pain after shingles (infection with the herpes zoster virus). This type of pain is called post-herpetic neuralgia.

Voltaren Gel (diclofenac sodium topical gel) is a topical gel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain of osteoarthritis of joints that are amenable to topical treatment, such the hands and knees.

Lidoderm may interact with anti-arrhythmic drugs or other local anesthetic products.

Voltaren Gel may interact with aspirin, lithium, diuretics (water pills), blood thinners, and methotrexate.

Voltaren Gel may also interact with heart or blood pressure medications, cyclosporine, steroids, certain antibiotics, and other topical treatments.

Apply Lidoderm to intact skin to cover the most painful area. Apply up to three patches, only once for up to 12 hours within a 24-hour period.

The proper amount of Voltaren® Gel should be measured using the dosing card supplied in the drug product carton. The dosing card is made of clear polypropylene. The dosing card should be used for each application of drug product. The gel should be applied within the rectangular area of the dosing card up to the 2 gram or 4 gram line (2 g for each elbow, wrist, or hand, and 4 g for each knee, ankle, or foot). The 2 g line is 2.25 inches long. The 4 g line is 4.5 inches long. The dosing card containing Voltaren® Gel can be used to apply the gel. The hands should then be used to gently rub the gel into the skin. After using the dosing card, hold with fingertips, rinse, and dry. If treatment site is the hands, patients should wait at least one (1) hour to wash their hands.

Lower Extremities, Including The Feet, Ankles, Or Knees

Apply the gel (4 g) to the affected foot, ankle, or knee 4 times daily. Voltaren® Gel should be gently massaged into the skin ensuring application to the entire affected foot, or knee or ankle. The entire foot includes the sole, top of the foot and the toes. Do not apply more than 16 g daily to any single joint of the lower extremities.

Upper Extremities Including The Hands, Wrists, Or Elbows

Apply the gel (2 g) to the affected hand, wrist, or elbow 4 times daily. Voltaren® Gel should be gently massaged into the skin ensuring application to the entire affected hand, wrist, or elbow. The entire hand includes the palm, back of the hands, and the fingers. Do not apply more than 8 g daily to any single joint of the upper extremities.

Total dose should not exceed 32 g per day, over all affected joints.

Special Precautions

• Avoid showering/bathing for at least 1 hour after the application. Inform patient to wash his/her hands after use, unless the hands are the treated joint. If Voltaren® Gel is applied to the hand (s) for treatment; inform patient not to wash the treated hand (s) for at least 1 hour after the application.
• Do not apply Voltaren® Gel to open wounds.
• Avoid contact of Voltaren® Gel with eyes and mucous membranes.
• Do not apply external heat and/or occlusive dressings to treated joints.
• Avoid exposure of the treated joint(s) to natural or artificial sunlight.
• Avoid concomitant use of Voltaren® Gel on the treated skin site with other topical products, including sunscreens, cosmetics, lotions, moisturizers, insect repellants, or other topical medications
• Concomitant use of Voltaren® Gel with oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has not been evaluated, and may increase adverse NSAIDs effects. Do not use combination therapy with Voltaren® Gel and an oral NSAID unless the benefit outweighs the risk and conduct periodic laboratory evaluations.
• Avoid wearing of clothing or gloves for at least 10 minutes after applying Voltaren® Gel.