Safety of Intravenous Lidocaine Infusions

Safety of Intravenous Lidocaine Infusions for Chronic Neuropathic Pain

The purpose of this study is to prospectively determine the side effects profile in adults with neuropathic pain receiving intravenous infusions of lidocaine 5 mg per kg of lean body weight, infused over 45 minutes.

Eligibility Criteria:

Adults > 18 yrs with chronic central or peripheral neuropathic pain at the St Joseph's Health Care Pain Clinic between June and December 2009.

Outcome measures: All side effects spontaneously reported. Sedation, nausea, dizziness by Visual Analog Score Q 15 minutes; hemodynamic data q 5 minutes during and after infusion for 30 minutes.

Daily diary of side effects and Visual Analogue score of Pain for 7 days post-infusion.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult outpatients > 18 years < 80 years diagnosed with chronic neuropathic pain

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to provide informed consent
• Unable to speak and understand English
• Liver, kidney, or cardiac failure
• Allergy to Lidocaine