Keeping It Simple: A Case Report on Atomized Intranasal 1% Lidocaine as an Effective Treatment for Pain Crisis Due to Trigeminal Neuralgia
Division
North Florida
Hospital
Osceola Regional Medical Center
Document Type
Case Report
Publication Date
11-24-2025
Keywords
chronic pain, emergency medicine, intranasal, lidocaine, trigeminal neuralgia
Disciplines
Emergency Medicine | Nervous System Diseases | Stomatognathic Diseases
Abstract
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic pain disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of sudden facial pain. Unfortunately, there are few options to adequately prevent attacks of TN and even fewer options for rescue therapy during acute episodes. Successful treatment of TN pain with the readily available 1% formulation, typically used for local anesthesia, has not yet been demonstrated. We present a case report of a 37-year-old male patient who presented to the emergency department with severe, debilitating TN pain and achieved significant relief within 20 minutes of intranasal (IN) atomized 1% lidocaine.
Publisher or Conference
Cureus
Recommended Citation
Dixon DD, Sze K, Elfman JH, Gue S. Keeping It Simple: A Case Report on Atomized Intranasal 1% Lidocaine as an Effective Treatment for Pain Crisis Due to Trigeminal Neuralgia. Cureus. 2025;17(11):e97652. Published 2025 Nov 24. doi:10.7759/cureus.97652