Which of the following is a common topical anesthetic used as an adjuvant analgesic?

The 5% lidocaine patch is recognized as a common topical anesthetic used as an adjuvant analgesic. Topical anesthetics like lidocaine work by blocking sodium channels in the nerve membranes, thereby inhibiting the transmission of pain signals. The lidocaine patch is particularly valuable in managing localized pain conditions, such as postherpetic neuralgia, and is favored for its targeted delivery and minimal systemic absorption, reducing potential side effects compared to systemic medications.

While corticosteroid creams can reduce inflammation and may provide symptom relief in certain skin conditions, they do not serve as primary pain modulators in the same manner that lidocaine does. Aspirin and ibuprofen gel are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that act primarily by reducing inflammation and providing analgesia through systemic pathways, not strictly as topical anesthetics. Therefore, the lidocaine patch stands out as a specialized option specifically designed to provide localized anesthesia and pain relief as an adjuvant therapy in pain management.