#Otc lidocaine cream skin

The ingredients in topical pain relievers are safe, although these products should not be used on broken or irritated skin or with a heating pad or bandage. The authors also concluded that high-concentration topical capsaicin may be of limited use in people with postherpetic neuralgia, and that the efficacy of topical salicylates, low‐concentration capsaicin, and lidocaine is not well-supported by evidence, though there may be beneficial effects for some patients. 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. While many say these products help relieve their arthritis pain, research reveals only modest benefits.

Opinions differ on the effectiveness of OTC topical pain medications. It also results in less stomach irritation than oral NSAIDs commonly used for treating osteoarthritis. Unlike other topical pain relievers that mask pain, diclofenac treats the pain. When applied according to the prescription package insert recommendations (e.g., 4 g applied 4 times per day to one knee), the amount of medication absorbed systemically is 17 times lower than the systemic exposure from oral diclofenac. Topical diclofenac comes as a 1% gel to apply on up to two joint areas 4 times daily. Like oral NSAIDs, topical diclofenac decreases the production of prostaglandins to reduce pain and inflammation but is applied locally to the targeted joint. In February 2020, FDA approved the OTC use of topical diclofenac sodium 1% (Voltaren) for the temporary relief of arthritis pain in the hand, wrist, elbow, foot, ankle, or knee in adults. Topical anesthetics such as lidocaine produce a local numbing sensation to reduce pain examples include Salonpas and Lidocare.

Capsaicin is most effective if used several times a day because its duration of action is only 4–6 hours and may take up to two weeks to work.Ĭounterirritant products containing menthol or camphor produce a sensation of hot or cold, which may temporarily mask pain by producing a less severe pain to counter a more intense one. Meanwhile, capsaicin products such as Capzasin and Zostrix elicit a feeling of warmth, and sometimes burning pain, through stimulation of the TRPV1 receptor and also deplete the levels of substance P from sensory neurons, resulting in pain relief. Salicylate creams such as Aspercreme and Bengay relieve pain in the same way as oral aspirin products, though potentially faster due to direct absorption. How do they work?Īll topical pain relievers depend on absorption through the skin, but they relieve pain in different ways. Primary ingredients include salicylates, capsaicin, menthol, camphor, and anesthetics. Because the ingredients are absorbed through the skin, most topical pain medications are best used on joints that are close to the skin’s surface, such as those in your hands and knees.

Several types are available, including those with local analgesic, anesthetic, antipruritic, and/or counterirritant effects, and in various forms, such as creams, gels, sprays, and patches. Topical analgesics are often used to relieve pain associated with aches and pains in muscles and joints, such as backaches, arthritis, strains, bruises, and sprains.