For those who suffer from back pain, the patch is an easy-to-use, affordable, effective and safe dosage form. He is not able to cure the disease or eliminate the cause of discomfort, because. this is just an important link in the complex of treatment. The effect of the patch is aimed at eliminating or alleviating the painful symptoms of the 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 gastrointestinal tract or painful injections that have many side effects and contraindications. Without negatively affecting other systems and organs, the patch for back pain delivers medicinal substances to the right place, provides sufficient concentration for the development of a therapeutic effect and a point effect directly on the source of pain.
Properties and types of plasters
The patch is a relatively new form of medication related to the transdermal therapeutic system.
Its distinctive feature is a unique structure that has a number of advantages:
- ease of use, ease of wearing - invisibility to others, preservation of freedom of movement, comfort of treatment (depending on the type of product and the expected effect, the patch can be on the skin from 1 hour to 2-3 days);
- active elements quickly penetrate into superficial blood vessels through the upper layers of the skin, begin to act purposefully, and faster than in forms for oral administration;
- when applied to the skin, a systemic effect is provided, but the substances are absorbed into the system of the inferior or superior vena cava, bypassing the liver and digestive tract and not undergoing a complex of biochemical transformations (primary hepatic and gastric metabolism), in which medicinal substances are broken down and usually lose their pharmacological activity;
- the ability to slowly release active ingredients on the surface of the dermis, which provides a longer period of exposure. This occurs due to the continuous supply of the drug to the body at a rate that creates a constant and close to the minimum therapeutic concentration level of the drug in the bloodstream;
- the absence of a withdrawal syndrome with a sharp end to the use;
- the ability to combine with other medications, physiotherapy procedures and treatment methods;
- the controlled release and prolonged action of the back pain relief patch allows for 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 a possible weakening of the pharmacological effect.
Due to its benefits, transdermal therapy quickly gained popularity. Officially, several dozen medical adhesive tapes with various active substances are registered in the world. All existing patches for the treatment of back pain, based on the composition and principle of action, can be divided into groups. This division is conditional, becausemany of them act by several mechanisms and produce a complex effect, when the influence of one active component is complemented by the work of another. On the pharmaceutical market, patches of domestic and foreign manufacturers are presented.
In pharmacies, you can find products of the following brands specializing in the production of dosed, completely ready-to-use medicines intended for external use in the form of a patch:
- irritating action;
- 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 anesthetics;
- nanotech.
Overview of the most popular back patches
The development and implementation of transdermal therapeutic systems has changed the idea of the patch as a simple damage-protecting sticker. The presence of a drug reservoir has made the patch an important element in the symptomatic treatment of low back pain and an alternative for 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 the internal organs, physical overload, hypothermia, pinched nerves, chronic infection, back injury, stress, age-related changes.
In order not to aggravate the situation, the pain cannot be ignored, it rarely goes away on its own. Treatment should be timely and competent - an integrated approach is needed. Depending on the type and severity of pain, the likely causes of their occurrence, the physiological characteristics of the body, the doctor may prescribe one or another drug.
Only a specialist, after a survey and a thorough examination, is able to determine which medical sticker is better, because. they differ in principle of action and tasks. Brief description and characteristics of the most commonly prescribed pain relief patches for back treatment:
- Pepper - the most popular, well-proven. Cheap and efficient. Liquid patches-gels are transparent, hypoallergenic, securely fixed. A surge of heat when applying the gel film is felt after 2 minutes. Stickers based on capsaicin (an extract made from hot capsicum) improve blood flow, metabolic processes in the affected area, reduce muscle tension, have a locally irritating, warming, antispasmodic and resolving effect. They relieve pain due to a distracting effect, while the pain is replaced by a feeling of slight burning and tingling. Aggressive, can irritate the skin. Indicated for radiculitis, rheumatic diseases, arthralgic syndrome, neuralgia of the back, lumbago, myalgia of the spinal muscles.
- A category of thermal plasters containing a set of substances (Turfan sand, coke, salt, activated carbon, iron and mineral powder, and the like), capable of heating up 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. Single use stickers anesthetize, provide uniform heating, increased blood circulation, relaxation of constantly tense deep muscle fibers that run along the spinal column. The warming patch helps with rheumatism, osteochondrosis, myositis of the lumbar or other back muscles, chronic osteoarthritis, sciatica.
- Patch masses with the inclusion of Diclofenac are representatives of the group of non-steroidal 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. Eliminate pain associated with the inflammatory process of swelling. The synthetic composition of the non-steroidal structure causes the likelihood of unwanted side reactions (the risk increases with prolonged treatment with the patch). Usually they bring relief in acute periods of the disease: with inflammation, degenerative changes in the spine, lumboischialgia. Also shown for the back and joints as a means of providing quick recovery from overexertion, injury, sprains.
- A 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, is expensive, supplies nutrients and anti-inflammatory substances. Its action is 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 painkillers, provide dermal anesthesia, the effect persists for another 120 minutes after removing the treatment strip from the skin. Used for neuropathic back pain, before injections or superficial surgery.
- Novelties manufactured using special technologies. They include bioactive substances of the smallest sizes deposited on a polymer base, which can easily penetrate into the layers of the epidermis, reach a 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, an improvement in lymphatic drainage, relief of pain, inflammatory reactions, edema removal, muscle relaxation, and restoration of functions. The patches are indicated for violation of sensitivity, pain in the cervical, lumbar region against the background of a pinched nerve, sciatica, spondylarthrosis, osteochondrosis, and other pathologies of the spine.
- Stickers based on medicinal plants - they are also called Chinese patches. They are not officially a medicine, they are registered as products belonging to the category of sanitary and hygienic products and cosmetics. Manufacturers emphasize the effectiveness and safety of herbal patches, which are due to the huge amount of useful natural substances that form the basis of the medical plate. There are many variations of adhesive tapes and reviews from them are mostly positive. Among the shortcomings, frequent allergic reactions and a large number of fakes are noted. The range of application is wide, includes osteochondrosis of any part of the spine, sciatica.
How to use
All back pain patches are for external use only. They are not subject to reuse, after removal from the skin they must be disposed of. After removing the protective strip, the product is applied to a well-cleansed dry skin surface in the disturbing area and left to act for the period specified by the manufacturer.
The instruction states that:
- Pepper plasters can be on the skin, providing a therapeutic effect, for 2 days. May irritate the skin and cause severe burning. Reapplication is possible only after a short break. The gel patch is applied to the problem area with a thin layer, without rubbing, waiting for complete drying. The formed film is removed in a day.
- Thermal patches are rarely attached directly to the naked body, because the perceived temperature can reach high values, so the manufacturer recommends fixing them on 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 are allowed to stick only for 24 hours. The maximum allowable daily dose is 30 mg. The duration of the treatment course should not exceed 21 days.
- Anesthetic patches are applied to the skin in the area of maximum pain. They can be cut, glued at the same time 3 pieces on different parts of the body. The application time is 1-5 hours, then the effect weakens. The interval between repeated applications is at least 12 hours. It is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of such treatment - if after 2-4 weeks of regular use a positive result is not observed, then the treatment course should be completed.
- Patches with chondroprotectors require prolonged use. Recommended regimen: the first week - daily round-the-clock use (when reapplying, it is advisable to slightly move the patch so as not to unnecessarily impede skin breathing), the second week and then - every other day. The manufacturer's instructions promise that visible changes will appear after 3 months of treatment, and to consolidate the achieved effect, it is necessary to extend the therapy for at least 3 more months.
- Nanotech patches are used in short courses: acute pain - 3-9 days, the stage of exacerbation of a chronic disease - 9-15 days. After a week break, you can repeat the treatment. The duration of the 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 a flush of heat.
Contraindications for use
If we compare different types of patches, using the safety of treatment as a criterion, then high-quality modern developments are the most preferable. The list of contraindications to their use is limited to the presence of open wounds, warts, large moles at the plate fixation sites, skin diseases and pregnancy (due to the lack of sufficient clinical data confirming the safety for fetal development). The next safest patch is Nano Patch GS, which is forbidden to be treated by pregnant and lactating women, children and adolescents 0-18 years old and individuals with individual intolerance to the constituent components. Thermal patches should also not be used in patients with diabetes mellitus or who have undergone heart surgery.
The list is closed with patches with NSAIDs, which have the following contraindications:
- hypersensitivity to non-steroidal substances, auxiliary elements of the drug;
- aspirin triad;
- dysfunction of the kidneys, liver;
- chronic course of cardiac dysfunction;
- erosion, gastrointestinal ulcers;
- exacerbation of porphyrin disease;
- elderly or children's age - 0-15 years;
- 3rd trimester of pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Analogues
The above is an exhaustive list of patches on the pharmaceutical market, they have no analogues in this dosage form. Other drugs for dermal 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 by any means can cause the development of a serious pathology.