Researchers Developing Drug Delivery Patches to Manage Pain Without Addiction Risk

Lidocaine is a non-addictive pain killer that works topically by blocking pain sensors below the skin. Current lidocaine patches simply release medication to a pain site through skin absorption. But there is no control over when or how much medicine is released, and some of it is not effectively absorbed by the skin. The UVA researchers believe they have found a way to improve on these patches in a big way by incorporating dissolvable and minimally invasive microneedles below the surface of the patch to painlessly release controllable flows of medicine, combined with temperature sensors and micro-heaters that would create a warm, soothing effect that also alleviates pain. Relief would come within about 15 minutes.

An Essential Guide to Over-the-Counter Topical Pain Relievers

Over-the-counter topical pain relievers fall into a few general categories: counterirritants, salicylates, capsaicin, and anesthetics, as well as the newer CBD topicals. How do you know which type is best for you?

Anti-inflammatory Gels and Creams – Do They Work??

The short answer is yes! A recent review of the literature (research evidence) by Cochrane revealed that topical NSAIDs provided good levels of pain relief in acute conditions such as sprains, strains and overuse injuries, probably similar to that provided by oral NSAIDs.

Characteristics of Analgesic Patch Formulations

Topical and transdermal formulations are a common means of pharmaceutical drug delivery. If a drug is able to penetrate transcutaneously, the skin is an ideal site for the delivery of medications for both local (topical) and systemic (transdermal) effects. The administration of analgesics through the skin poses several potential advantages to those administered orally including compliance, the ability to deliver a drug to a peripheral target site and more stable and sustained plasma levels. One method of drug delivery is with the use of patch formulations – also known as patch systems. Typically, transdermal patches deliver medications intended to reach the systemic circulation, whereas topical patch.

FDA Issues Warnings for Some OTC Topical Pain Relievers

These warnings pertain to 19 pain relievers marketed by six companies, containing ingredients like lidocaine at levels higher than allowed by law. High lidocaine levels could lead to serious health risks such as irregular heartbeat, seizures, and breathing difficulties.

Harvard Health Ad Watch: Aches, pains, and muscle cramps — do well-advertised remedies actually work?

Usually, the makers of well-studied products with proven benefits are quite willing to share results of studies demonstrating effectiveness. The fact that none of these product makers do is reason for skepticism. If you're already using Blue-Emu, Australian Dream, or Theraworx, and it's clearly working well for you, that's great! But there seems to be little evidence that would predict this result.

Lidocaine Patches Are No Better Than Placebo for Somatic Back Pain

There are no published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of lidocaine patches for pain from VCFs. However, two unpublished RCTs showed no significant difference between placebo patches and lidocaine 5% patches for low back pain.

OTC Transdermal Analgesic Patches in Pain Management

OTC topical analgesic patches offer both convenience and consistent drug administration. Among the active ingredients available in these products are lidocaine, capsaicin, methyl salicylate, and menthol. There is a paucity of studies about the efficacy and safety of these medications.

Ouch! Topical pain relievers come in many forms

Opinions differ on the effectiveness of OTC topical pain medications. While many say these products help relieve their arthritis pain, research reveals only modest benefits. A 2017 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews study by Derry and colleagues concluded that topical diclofenac is effective in reducing pain for osteoarthritis, but that no evidence supports its use in other chronic pain conditions.

The Best Topical Pain Relief Products

I used to dismiss pain creams as too lightweight for my chronic pain. I was wrong. Though they can’t fix the pain, they’re a vital part of managing it. There’s no risk of addiction, most of them are affordable, and they travel well.

The pharmacology of topical analgesics

Fortunately, clinicians have an array of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment choices; however, each modality must be chosen carefully, because some often used oral agents are associated with safety and tolerability issues that restrict their use in certain patients. In particular, orally administered nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, opioids, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants are known to cause systemic adverse effects in some patients. To address this problem, a number of topical therapies in various therapeutic classes have been developed to reduce systemic exposure and minimize the risks of patients developing adverse events. For example, topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug formulations produce a site-specific effect (ie, cyclo-oxygenase inhibition) while decreasing the systemic exposure that may lead to undesired effects in patients. Similarly, derivatives of acetylsalicylic acid (ie, salicylates) are used in topical analgesic formulations that do not significantly enter the patient's systemic circulation.

Topical analgesics for acute and chronic pain in adults

Topical analgesic drugs are used to treat a variety of painful conditions. Some might be regarded as acute pain (pain lasting less than 3 or 6 months), which are typically strains or sprains, tendonitis, or muscle aches. Others would be regarded as chronic pain, like osteoarthritis of the hand or knee, or certain types of neuropathic pain. O

Topical Analgesics in the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain

Oral analgesics are commonly prescribed for the treatment of acute and chronic pain, but these agents often produce adverse systemic effects, which sometimes are severe. Topical analgesics offer the potential to provide the same analgesic relief provided by oral analgesics but with minimal adverse systemic effects.

Topical Therapies for Chronic Pain Management: A Review of Diclofenac and Lidocaine

Management of chronic pain is complicated and many of the available medication options can lead to unwanted adverse effects. Topical prescription nonopioid therapies (lidocaine and diclofenac) are a good option for management of select states of chronic pain.

Understanding Topical Analgesics

Topical analgesic products are available in a variety of formulations, including gels, ointments, creams, lotions, and patches in single-entity or combination formulations... OTC topical analgesics are intended to be used for mild-to-moderate pain for no longer than 7 days, unless otherwise directed by a physician.