Pain patches – did you know there are so many of them?

In winter and autumn, we are exposed to colds and chills much more often than in the summer season. It is also a period when we need more physical activity to keep our body in good shape and health. When the temperature outside the window drops, we start tidying up our home gardens, and all this is conducive to injuries, overloads or other injuries resulting in pain that hampers everyday functioning. How to deal with it? Easily available painkillers at a pharmacy will be of help. How do they work? What’s in them?

Not only a tablet for pain

Each of us has experienced unpleasant pain in muscles or joints that makes it impossible to perform even the simplest movement. It appears suddenly, most often after intense physical exertion, sitting for many hours in front of a computer screen, and also during a cold or flu. Usually, the first reaction in such situations is to take a pill containing a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory agent. This is the simplest solution as it allows you to quickly forget about pain. Unfortunately, our liver will not forget it. Because it is she who experiences the effects of drugs the most. Chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is harmful not only to this organ, but also to the stomach, intestines and pancreas, especially if they were not in perfect condition before starting treatment.

Fortunately, painkillers are an effective alternative to pills. Various types are available on the market, including those with a warming and cooling effect. These products also successfully replace painkillers in ointments and gel.

Why the patches?

1. Their application is quick and easy.
2. They are invisible under clothing.
3. They do not stain clothes (unlike gels and ointments).
4. They are safe for the liver and other internal organs.
5. They release active substances gradually and last for a long time (up to 12 hours).

What to use the painkiller patches for?

There are several types of painkillers to choose from at the pharmacy. They can be selected for a specific disease and type of pain. The main criterion for dividing the patches is their availability.

Over-the-counter patches:

1. warming – they are used for pain in the back, joints, neck, nape and muscles; they most often contain powdered iron or glycol salicylate, and until recently also capsaicin;
2. cooling – they are used for sprains, contusions, headaches (including migraines), teeth, joint area, muscle strains or strains, tendinitis and joint bursitis; the cooling effect is due to the presence of menthol, magnesium oxide and griffonia simplicifolii seed extract in their composition;
3. with NSAIDs – they work exclusively at the site of application; they have a negligible systemic effect, and the concentration of the active substance in the systemic circulation is only 5% of the value that can be obtained after oral administration of the same substance; diclofenac is a common active ingredient used in NSAID patches.

Prescription patches:

1. with 5% lidocaine – they are used in the treatment of neuropathic pain (including osteoarthritis), post-herpetic neuralgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, idiopathic sensory polyneuropathy, diabetic polyneuropathy and myofascial pain syndrome; lidocaine is a commonly used topical anesthetic; one such patch is currently available on the pharmacy market under the trade name Versatis; 
2. with 8% capsaicin – they are used to relieve pain caused by nerve damage, i.e. neuropathic pain; capsaicin is an organic chemical compound (naturally occurring, inter alia, in chili peppers and responsible for their pungent taste), which is known for its action on pain receptors, ie nociceptors; The company Grünenthal launched such a patch, called Qutenza.

An alternative to capsaicin

Until recently, one of the substances most willingly used by manufacturers of painkillers was capsaicin. However, this ingredient has recently become of particular interest to authorities responsible for the registration and authorization of drugs and medical devices. According to their opinion, analgesic patches with capsaicin in the composition should be registered as a medicinal product (in accordance with the document issued by the European Commission – “Manual On Borderline And Classification In The Community Regulatory Framework For Medical Devices”, Version 1.22 [05-2019]).

However, the drug registration process is not only very time consuming but also costly. Therefore, capsaicin patches, introduced in registrations other than the drug, are irretrievably disappearing from the market, and in their place there are new proposals with active substances alternative to capsaicin, such as arnica, mustard, camphor, vanilla butyl ether or ginger.

Of all the substances mentioned above, ginger deserves special attention. It is not only an aromatic spice, but also an effective agent that can be successfully used to warm up the muscles and minimize the feeling of pain. Ginger has been known for its health-promoting properties for 2500 years, but only in recent years has more possibilities been discovered thanks to scientific research. The great advantage of this root is its widespread availability and relatively low price. Its use (both internal and external) allows you to avoid side effects and therefore it can successfully replace some chemical drugs.

When not to use painkillers

Pain relief patches should not be applied to damaged skin, burns, rashes and wounds. It is also not allowed to use them if you are allergic or allergic to any of the components listed in the composition.