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Patch Offers Relief for Migraine Patients
Reported by Carolyn Clifford
Web produced by Kelly Reynolds

	Lidoderm is available only through prescription. Video

If you suffer from headaches, you may now get relief without popping all those pills.

Fighting headaches may be difficult. Patients often take many medications, but they may soon be able to just slap on a patch.

People with chronic migraines, or tension headaches, may take dozens of pills a week.

"I don't like it, but I've had to do it for the last seven years," said migraine patient Victoria Baldinelli.

These days, Victoria tries to avoid headache medication. Botox shots reduced her headache pain, but now she has another option, a patch that she places on her neck. It's filled with 700 grams of lidocaine.

The lidocaine in the patch is just like the lidocaine your dentist uses to numb your mouth. When applied topically, the patch tricks the nerves in the neck and shoulders, and prevents them from sending a pain signal to your brain.

"The patch is applied directly over the area of musculo-skeletal contraction, and it tends to relieve pain," said Dr. Emilio Cruz, neurologist.

The patch, called Lidoderm, is approved for use in patients with shingles and neuropathy. When Peggy Stone feels shooting pain in her feet, she uses the patch.

"When it's really going this way, zip, zip, then you put the patches on, and that calms things down," said Peggy.

In his practice, Dr. Cruz prescribed these patches for tension headaches.

"I find that it hurts no one. It's safe, and I get a response rate higher than 50 percent."

But the patch makes it much more convenient. It's on, you know, I know that there's a stream of medicine coming through, and I should be okay," Victoria said.

Lidoderm is only available through prescription. It should be left on for 12 hours. But be warned, doctors say some patients have complained of side effects like local skin irritation.



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