Cream application for muscle pain avoids side effects - Brief Article

AORN Journal, Oct, 2003

A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) applied to the skin in a cream form is sale and effective in reducing muscle soreness after exercise, according to a July 11, 2003, news release from the University of California, San Diego. Direct application to the skin avoids side effects that may occur from use of oral NSAIDs.

Researchers compared the transdermal (ie, cream) version of the NSAID ketoprofen to a transdermal placebo. Thirty-two healthy men between the ages of 18 and 35 participated in the study. Women were not included in the study to avoid fertility or pregnancy complications. At 48 hours after exercise, participants who used the NSAID cream reported 37% to 45% less muscle soreness than those who used the placebo.

Oral NSAIDS currently are the most prescribed medications for pain relief and inflammation reduction after exercise; however, these medications can produce significant systemic side effects, such as gastrointestinal distress and problems with liver and kidney function, in some individuals. An estimated 103,000 patients are hospitalized in the United States for NSAID-induced gastrointestinal complications annually. More than 16,000 NSAID-related deaths occur annually among arthritis patients alone.

Only about 1% of the transdermal NSAID is absorbed systemically. Researchers obtained blood samples from the participants to measure system absorption of ketoprofen. They found that serum ketoprofen levels at 24 and 48 hours were minimal. Currently, transdermal formulations of NSAIDS are not commercially available in the United Sates. Physicians may prescribe a customized, individual compound that is prepared by a pharmacist.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Applied to Skin Lessens Muscle Soreness After Exercise (news release, San Diego: University of California, San Diego, July 11, 2003) http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2003/07_11_Bracker.html (accessed 28 July 2003).