Topical 5% lidocaine (lignocaine) medicated plaster treatment for post-herpetic neuralgia: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multinational efficacy and safety trial

Background and objective: Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a distressing neuropathic pain condition mainly affecting elderly patients. Neuropathic pain symptoms can be of a burning, shooting and stabbing nature, and may continue for prolonged periods and are often poorly controlled by polymedication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of topical analgesic treatment (5% lidocaine [lignocaine] medicated plaster) compared with placebo plaster in patients with PHN.