The use of lidocaine patches.

Our recent pharmacokinetic studies with lidocaine patches in dogs and cats have found that plasma concentration of lidocaine following patch application tends to be low. Lidocaine patch application can be a powerful analgesic adjunct to existing analgesic agents, including opioids and NSAIDs, in a multimodal pain management scheme. This article reviews the pros and cons of lidocaine patch application and its clinical use in dogs and cats. A comparison of lidocaine and fentanyl patches is included.