(742): Depressed mood predicts analgesic response to intravenous lidocaine

Abstract

Lidocaine is a sodium channel blocker that is typically used for topical pain relief. When administered intravenously, lidocaine also has a demonstrated analgesic effect in neuropathic pain patients. It is unclear, however, whether lidocaine operates by suppressing peripheral nerve conduction or through more central mechanisms. Previous work has shown that intravenous lidocaine affects mood as well as pain, suggesting effects in the central nervous system. If lidocaine causes analgesia through central routes, individual differences in mood may predict response to the drug.