Could a patch replace the needle? new study tests lidocaine patch for epidural pain

NCT ID NCT07700108

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jul 13, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026 · Updated 4 times

Summary

This study compares a lidocaine patch to the standard lidocaine injection for numbing the skin before an epidural needle is placed in pregnant women. The goal is to see if the patch can reduce pain and fear of needles during labor. Participants are randomly assigned to receive the patch, an injection, or both, and their pain responses are measured.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
lidocaine patch 4%
What this could lead to
If effective, the lidocaine patch could offer a less painful alternative to numbing injections before epidural placement, reducing needle-related fear and discomfort.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial, so results may not apply broadly. The patch may not numb the skin as quickly or effectively as the injection.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 2

Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.

Participants

About 135 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Jun 2026

Expected to finish

Jan 2029

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Female participants only

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: Age 18 years or older Parturient women requesting neuraxial anesthesia/analgesia (epidural or combined spinal-epidural) for vaginal or cesarean delivery Ability to provide informed consent in English Exclusion Criteria: Less than 30 minutes of lidocaine patch placement prior to epidural placement Administration of opioids within 4 hours before study enrollment Intravenous magnesium sulfate administration within the previous 24 hours Diabetes mellitus (Type 1 or Type 2) Neurocardiogenic signs or symptoms (e.g., dizziness, lightheadedness, bradycardia, or syncope) during intravenous cannulation Cervical dilation greater than 6 cm (if in labor) Spinal anesthesia Chronic pain condition Opioid use disorder Intrauterine fetal demise Prisoner status

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As listed by the trial registrant

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How to take part

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  2. The official record

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Hospitals

    RECRUITING

    Columbus, Ohio, 43201, United States

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