Substitutes For Lidocaine Patches For Kids With Neuropathy

Today's post from ask.metafilter.com (see link below) is taken from a forum discussion on finding an alternative for lidocaine patches to use with children living with neuropathy. Here the aim is to find cheaper options but lidocaine patches can also be too strong for smaller children. The responses to the original question are shown below. We often forget that children can also suffer from neuropathy and although it is less frequent, the pain and sicomfort can be every bit as difficult to deal with. Children aren't as able to rationalise their pain as adults are, so treating them 'kindly' with our medications is very important.

Lidocaine patch substitute for child's neuropathy.
September 25, 2014 
 
Looking for a cool (as in chilly), inexpensive, gel-like patch to replace Lidocaine patches for a child with nerve pain.

Little Orsonet, who is 7, has small nerve fiber neuropathy which manifests as a burning sensation in her feet. The pain varies in intensity and is not present all the time. Her neurologist just prescribed Lidocaine patches, which we tried today and she loves them.

Yeah! However, they are $8 a patch ($240 for a month's supply of the generic) and Medicaid doesn't pay for them. She's on Medicaid because she was adopted through foster care. I have a hunch that what she likes about them is the cool gooeyness (sp?) rather than the actual lidocaine and I'd like to test that hypothesis by finding a patch that I can buy over-the-counter for, hopefully, a lot less money.

I found this on Amazon, but it's basically the same price. I've looked at pain patches, but some of them contain aspirin (a no-no) and most of them appear to lack the cooling gel goodness. Anyone have any suggestions? A worried mom appreciates any input.

If it's relevant, she takes 5 ML of Gabapentin twice a day and Tramadol as needed. posted by orsonet to Health; Fitness (11 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite

They aren't super cheap, but they are cheaper than that and can be reused: lansinoh soothing gel breast pads intended for nursing mothers.
posted by bq at 5:48 PM on September 25 [1 favorite]

Will she be walking on them (or at least walking on them a lot), or is it something she does with her feet up?
posted by Lyn Never at 5:56 PM on September 25

What about Biofreeze? Its not a patch, but I would use those exact adjectives (cool and gooey) to describe the sensation.
posted by Nickel Pickle at 5:57 PM on September 25 [1 favorite]

She doesn't need to be able to walk on them.
posted by orsonet at 6:00 PM on September 25

there are menthol gel patches you can buy in the drugstore, and they are indeed cool and gooey.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 6:03 PM on September 25 [1 favorite]

I immediately thought of BioFreeze too. I have chronic wrist pain and use it frequently and it sounds like what you describe.
posted by kbanas at 6:09 PM on September 25 [1 favorite]

FWIW the ones you linked to are $6.99 for a four-pack, not per patch.
posted by celtalitha at 8:05 PM on September 25 [1 favorite]

The methanol gel patches that I like are Salon Pas. They are pretty cheap, and they give a cool feeling.
posted by heathrowga at 8:08 PM on September 25 [1 favorite]

Thanks everyone!
posted by orsonet at 3:53 AM on September 26 

http://ask.metafilter.com/269052/Lidocaine-patch-substitute-for-childs-neuropathy