Compound Pharmaceuticals for Pain Management

Chronic pain can be very difficult to manage in many patients. Many of the traditional oral drugs used for pain treatment, such as opioids, NSAIDs, and anticonvulsants, can have unwanted systemic side effects. These classes of medications, among others, can be just as effective in managing pain when used topically. Using a multimodal approach to treating symptoms of chronic pain has also been shown to be efficacious and can be achieved via compound pharmaceuticals using a topical formulation.

Treatment Options

Classes of medications that can be used topically include: NSAIDs, Alpha II Agonists, AMPA-Na+ Channel Blockers, GABA Agonists, NMDA-Ca2+ Channel Blockers, Tricyclic Antidepressants.

Advantages

Avoid first pass hepatic metabolism
Avoid GI tract
May improve compliance
Increased drug concentration at site of pain
Decreased systemic side effects

Disadvantages

Most common side effect is rash
May not be suitable for large areas
Absorption may vary from patient to patient depending on the stratum corneum barrier

Download a Pain Management Compounding Order Form

References

Arnstein PM. The future of topical analgesics. Postgrad Med. 2013;125(4 Suppl 1):34-41.

Argoff CE. Topical analgesics in the management of acute and chronic pain. Introduction. Postgrad Med. 2013;125(4 Suppl 1):3-6.

http://www.rxwiki.com/clinical-trial/topical-compounded-pain-creams-and-painperception-topcapp

http://www.rxwiki.com/clinical-trial/evaluation-analgesic-effect-ropivacaine-topical-use-thin-skin-graft-donor-site

http://www.rxwiki.com/clinical-trial/analgesic-effects-topical-ketamine-mouthwash-patients-receiving-chemoradiation-or

http://www.rxwiki.com/clinical-trial/neuropathic-pain-caused-radiation-therapy

http://www.rxwiki.com/clinical-trial/topical-amitriptyline-and-ketamine-cream-treating-peripheral-neuropathy-caused

http://www.rxwiki.com/news-article/pain-relievers-applied-skin-can-be-just-effective-those-taken-orally