For those suffering from back pain, the patch is an easy-to-use, affordable, effective and safe dosage form. He is incapable of curing disease or eliminating the cause of discomfort, because. it is only an important link in the complex of care. The effect of the patch is aimed at eliminating or reducing the symptoms of a painful disease, improving the quality of life at home, without resorting to the help of a medical professional, taking pills that are harmful to the lining of the digestive tract or painful. injections that have many side effects and contraindications. Without negatively affecting other systems and organs, the patch for back pain delivers the medicinal substance to the right place, providing sufficient concentration for the development of a therapeutic effect and a direct point effect at the source of the pain.
Properties and types of plaster
Patch is a relatively new form of treatment related to the transdermal therapy system.
Its distinctive feature is a unique structure that has a number of advantages:
- ease of use, ease of wearing - invisible to others, preservation of freedom of movement, convenience of care (depending on the type of product and the expected effect, the patch can stick to the skin from 1 hour to 2-3 days);
- the active element quickly penetrates into the superficial blood vessels through the upper layers of the skin, begins to act purposefully, and more quickly than in the form for oral administration;
- when applied to the skin, a systemic effect is exerted, but the substance is absorbed into the inferior or superior vena cava system, bypasses the liver and gastrointestinal tract and does not undergo complex biochemical transformations (primary hepatic and gastric metabolism), during which the drug substance is broken down and usually loses its pharmacological activity;
- the ability to slowly release the active ingredients on the surface of the dermis, which provides a longer exposure period. This occurs due to the continuous supply of the drug to the body at a level that creates a constant and near minimum level of therapeutic drug concentration in the bloodstream;
- absence of withdrawal syndrome with sharp edges on application;
- the ability to combine with other drugs, physiotherapeutic procedures, and treatment methods;
- the controlled release and prolonged action of the back pain relief patch allows a reduction in the frequency of administration of the prescribed medication. This, in turn, minimizes the systemic and local side effects characteristic of long-term repeated use, the presence and magnitude of the cumulative effect, and avoids the possible weakening of the pharmacological effect.
Because of its benefits, transdermal therapy is rapidly gaining popularity. Officially, several dozen medical adhesive tapes with various active substances are registered in the world. All existing fillings for the treatment of back pain, based on the composition and the principle of exposure, can be divided into several groups. This division is conditional, since many of them act through several mechanisms and produce complex effects, when the effect of one active component is complemented by the action of another. In the pharmaceutical market, patches of domestic and foreign manufacturers are presented.
In pharmacies you can find products of the following brands that specialize in the production of completely ready-to-use, ready-to-use medicines intended for external use in the form of patches:
- annoying actions;
- with heat reflective coating, dry heat;
- with non-steroidal or other anti-inflammatory agents;
- with the addition of medicinal herbs and oils;
- based on substances of chondroprotective action;
- painkillers with local anesthesia;
- nanotechnology.
Overview of the most popular back patches
The development and application of transdermal therapy systems has changed the idea of patches as simple damage protective stickers. The presence of a drug reservoir has made the patch an important element in the symptomatic treatment of low back pain and an alternative to parenteral and oral administration. There are many reasons that can cause pain and heaviness in the back. This may be due to problems with the musculoskeletal system, diseases of internal organs, physical overload, hypothermia, pinched nerves, chronic infections, back injuries, stress, age-related changes.
In order not to aggravate the situation, the pain cannot be ignored, it rarely goes away on its own. Treatment must be timely and competent - an integrated approach is required. Depending on the type and severity of pain, the possible causes of its appearance, the physiological characteristics of the body, the doctor can prescribe one or another drug.
Only a specialist, after a thorough survey and examination, can determine which medical sticker is better, because. they differ in the principle of action and duty. A brief description and characteristics of the most commonly prescribed pain relief patches for back care:
- Pepper - the most popular, well proven. Cheap and efficient. Transparent liquid gel-patch, hypoallergenic, securely attached. The heat wave when applying the gel film is felt after 2 minutes. Stickers based on capsaicin (extract made from hot capsicum) increase blood flow, metabolic processes in the affected area, reduce muscle tension, have a local irritating, warming, antispasmodic and resolving effect. They relieve pain due to the annoying effect, while the pain is replaced by a slight burning and tingling feeling. Aggressive, may irritate skin. Indicated for radiculitis, rheumatic diseases, arthralgia syndrome, back neuralgia, lumbago, spinal muscular myalgia.
- A category of thermal plasters containing a set of substances (Turfan sand, coke, salt, activated carbon, iron and mineral powders, and the like), capable of heating to 40-58 degrees in just 20 minutes in contact with air and maintaining the optimum temperature for 7-12 hours. This subgroup has a high cost and a relatively long list of contraindications. Disposable stickers anesthetize, provide uniform heating, promote blood circulation, relaxation of constantly tense deep muscle fibers that run along the spine. The heating patch helps with rheumatism, osteochondrosis, myositis of the lumbar or other back muscles, chronic osteoarthritis, sciatica.
- The mass of the patch with the inclusion of Diclofenac is a representative of the group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They act quickly without irritating the skin. They are characterized by pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The effect is long lasting. Relieves pain associated with inflammation and swelling. The synthetic composition of the non-steroidal structure leads to the possibility of unwanted side reactions (the risk increases with long-term treatment with the patch). Usually they bring relief in the acute period of the disease: with inflammation, degenerative changes in the spine, lumboischialgia. It is also indicated for the back and joints as a means to provide quick recovery from fatigue, injuries, sprains.
- Highly targeted adhesive tape containing glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and neurotropic vitamin B1. The complex of active ingredients involved in the synthesis of connective tissue increases the production of cartilage matrix, protects cartilage from damaging factors, helps restore the hyaline layer, and stimulates tissue regeneration. The drug is of natural origin, expensive, supplies nutrients and anti-inflammatory substances. Its actions are aimed at eliminating the cause of the pain syndrome. This type of patch is recommended for deforming, degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine.
- Local anesthetic with lidocaine, which is a combination of 2 anesthetics. Strong painkiller, provides dermal anesthesia, the effect lasts for 120 minutes after removing the treatment strip from the skin. Used for neuropathic back pain, before injections or superficial surgery.
- Novelties produced using special technology. They include bioactive substances of the smallest size deposited on a polymer base, which can easily penetrate into the layers of the epidermis, reach the sore spot, produce radiation in the infrared region of the spectrum, and create a constant magnetic field. The result of the combined effect of nanoparticles is an increase in local blood flow, improvement of lymphatic drainage, pain relief, inflammatory reactions, elimination of edema, muscle relaxation, and restoration of function. The patch is indicated for violation of sensitivity, pain in the cervix, lumbar region against the background of pinched nerves, sciatica, spondylarthrosis, osteochondrosis and other pathologies of the spine.
- Stickers based on medicinal plants - they are also called Chinese patches. They are not officially medicinal, they are registered as products that fall into the categories of sanitary and hygienic products and cosmetics. The manufacturer emphasizes the effectiveness and safety of the herbal patch, which is due to the large number of beneficial natural substances that form the basis of the medical plate. There are many variations of adhesive tape and the reviews of them are mostly positive. Among the shortcomings, frequent allergic reactions and a large number of fakes are noted. The range of application is wide, including osteochondrosis of the spine, sciatica.
How to use
All back pain patches are for external use only. They cannot be reused, once removed from the skin they must be discarded. After removing the protective strip, the product is applied to a dry, well-cleaned surface of the skin on the irritated area and left to work for the period specified by the manufacturer.
The instructions state that:
- Pepper plaster can be on the skin, providing a therapeutic effect, for 2 days. May irritate skin and cause severe burning. Re-application is possible only after a short break. The gel patch is applied to problem areas with a thin layer, without rubbing, waiting for complete drying. The formed film is removed in a day.
- Thermal patches rarely stick directly to the naked body, since the perceived temperature can reach high values, so manufacturers recommend attaching them to fairly dense underwear. After opening the packaging bag and removing the patch, remove the protective film from it. It must be used immediately and in its entirety - it is forbidden to cut! The maximum duration of use is 10-12 hours per day.
- Patches with NSAIDs should only stick for 24 hours. The maximum allowable daily dose is 30 mg. The duration of the course of treatment should not exceed 21 days.
- The anesthetic patch is applied to the skin in the area of maximum pain. They can be cut, glued together 3 parts on different parts of the body. Time of application - 1-5 hours, then the effect weakens. The interval between repeated applications is at least 12 hours. It is important to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment - if after 2-4 weeks of regular use there are no positive results, then the treatment should be completed.
- Patches with chondroprotectors require long-term use. Recommended regimen: the first week - daily use around the clock (when reapplying, it is recommended to slightly move the patch so as not to unnecessarily interfere with skin breathing), the second week and then - daily. The manufacturer's instructions promise that visible changes will appear after 3 months of treatment, and in order to consolidate the achieved effect, it is necessary to extend therapy for at least another 3 months.
- Nanotechnology plasters are used in short courses: acute pain - 3-9 days, stage of exacerbation of chronic diseases - 9-15 days. After a week's rest, you can repeat the treatment. The duration of continuous stay of the adhesive tape on the skin is limited to 12 hours, after which the skin must rest for at least 6 hours. The therapeutic effect is often accompanied by a slight burning sensation and hot flashes.
Contraindications to use
If we compare different types of fillings, using treatment safety as a criterion, then high-quality modern developments are the most preferable. The list of contraindications to its use is limited to the presence of open sores, warts, large moles at the place of fixation of the plate, skin diseases and pregnancy (due to the lack of sufficient clinical data confirming safety for fetal development). The next safest patch is Nano Patch GS, which is prohibited for treatment by pregnant and lactating mothers, children and adolescents 0-18 years and individuals with individual intolerance to its constituent components. Thermal patches should also not be used in patients with diabetes mellitus or who have had heart surgery.
The list closes with a patch with NSAIDs, which have the following contraindications:
- hypersensitivity to non-steroidal substances, additional elements of the drug;
- aspirin triad;
- kidney, liver dysfunction;
- chronic course of cardiac dysfunction;
- erosion, peptic ulcer;
- exacerbation of porphyrin disease;
- elderly or children - 0-15 years;
- 3rd trimester of pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Analogy
Above is a complete list of patches on the pharmaceutical market, they have no analogues in this dosage form. Other drugs for skin use, ointments and gels, sprays, including the same active substance, have the closest effect.
Back pain is a reason to immediately consult a doctor, self-medication in any way can lead to the development of serious pathologies.