ActiPatch® vs Lidocaine Patches like Salonpas and Aspercreme: Which Pain Patch?
By Electrome Corporation · Published October 21, 2026
Searching for a pain patch usually turns up two very different things. Lidocaine patches such as Salonpas Lidocaine and Aspercreme Lidocaine are medicated patches that numb the skin for a set number of hours, then go in the bin. ActiPatch® is a drug-free wearable that sits over the sore area and delivers pulsed shortwave therapy (PSWT) for hours at a time, with nothing absorbed through the skin.
Numbing patch or drug-free wearable
ActiPatch®
No drug, no numbing. Reusable with tape or a wrap for up to 720 therapy hours per device.
Lidocaine patch
Lidocaine released into the skin. One patch for 8 to 12 hours, then discarded. Label limits per day.
How do lidocaine patches work?
Over-the-counter lidocaine patches hold 4% lidocaine in an adhesive that releases the drug into the skin, where it numbs nerve endings. Labels typically allow one patch for up to 8 to 12 hours, a limited number of patches a day, and warn against use on broken skin, with heat, or over large areas. Prescription 5% lidocaine patches are for specific nerve-pain conditions.
Brand names mentioned here are trademarks of their owners, who are not affiliated with ActiPatch® or Electrome.
Where does ActiPatch® come out ahead?
No numbing agent and no drug. ActiPatch® has no daily patch limit and no risk of absorbing too much lidocaine, so you can wear it through the day and overnight.
One device provides up to 720 therapy hours, instead of a new medicated patch every 8 to 12 hours. It is reusable with the included tape or a wrap, and it works through a thin layer of clothing.
It is FDA cleared as a medical device for adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain and was studied in a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.
Can you use both?
Yes, with care. ActiPatch® contains no drug, so it adds no drug interaction. Do not place the loop directly on top of a medicated patch, and do not place it on skin that is irritated from a patch. Follow the lidocaine label on how many patches to use and where.
What does the research show?
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial in people with knee osteoarthritis (Bagnato and colleagues, Rheumatology, 2016), the study reported a difference in pain outcomes between active and sham devices. Individual results vary.
ActiPatch® is FDA cleared (510(k) K192234) for over-the-counter adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. It has no drug ingredient, and you wear it for hours at a time right over the sore area.
Who should not use ActiPatch®?
Do not use if you have a cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, or other active implanted metallic or electronic device.
Do not use if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
Not for use by or on children under 17.
Do not use for sudden or unexplained pain, or if the cause of the pain is unknown. Not for pain deep in the body such as the chest or stomach, and not for cancer-related pain.
The device is not sterile. Do not place it in direct contact with open wounds.
Check in with your doctor if the pain changes, gets worse, or isn't easing after a few weeks. If you are under a doctor's care, consult your doctor before use.
Read the supplied package insert before use.
Frequently asked questions
Is ActiPatch® a lidocaine patch?
No. ActiPatch® contains no lidocaine or any other drug. It is a wearable medical device that delivers pulsed shortwave therapy over the painful area.
What is a drug-free alternative to Salonpas or Aspercreme patches?
ActiPatch® is a drug-free, FDA-cleared wearable for adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. It is worn for hours, has no numbing agent, and one device provides up to 720 therapy hours.
How long can you wear a pain patch?
A lidocaine patch is limited by its label, often 8 to 12 hours per patch. ActiPatch® can be worn for hours at a time, including overnight, following its package insert.
Primary sources
Educational information only. ActiPatch® is FDA 510(k) cleared (K192234) for over-the-counter (OTC) adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. Read the package instructions and consult a clinician about persistent or worsening pain.