Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability in the United States. It affects over 50 million adults in the U.S. and costs the nation up to $635 billion annually. It is also one of the most frequent reasons people seek medical care. Despite a wealth of treatment options, as many as 40% of patients treated for chronic pain do not attain adequate relief.
Further complicating this problem, patients who report chronic pain often suffer from multiple conditions and take multiple medications such as opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are associated with adverse effects including abuse, addiction, and death. The FDA and CDC have recognized that opioid misuse and overdose have reached epidemic proportions. The National Center for Health Statistics reported over 107,620 drug overdose deaths in 2021.
Clarity Science, a division of Safe Harbor Compliance and Clinical Services LLC, reported the results of a study which evaluated patients with chronic pain who were treated with topical pain relief creams. The results, published in the Journal of Pain Research, suggest that topical treatments may provide an effective and safer treatment alternative to opioids and prescription NSAIDs for the management of chronic pain.
The results of this study show that topical pain creams were associated with reductions of up to 60% in the use of concurrent pain medications, including oral opioid pain medicines. Topical agents have the potential to provide pain relieving effects without the risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction or systemic adverse events associated with oral pain medications. Also, they lower the risk of drug interactions, have limited systemic absorption, offer simple-dose determination, provide direct access to the location of the pain, and are easy for patients to apply. Results of the Study show that topical treatments are effective and safe for the relief of moderately severe chronic pain associated with arthritis, neuropathic conditions, and musculoskeletal disorders.
At Norland Avenue Pharmacy, we are able to create topical pain creams in our state-of-the-art compounding lab. Compounded pain creams require a prescription from your physician. We will attempt to get insurance to help cover the cost, but we also offer reasonable cash pricing. If you would like more information or a flyer to take to your physician, please stop by the pharmacy.
*These statements are culmination of the knowledge and experience of the team at Norland Pharmacy. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare provider with questions concerning any medical condition or treatment. Compounded medications are not reviewed by the FDA for safety or efficacy. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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