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, becausethis is just an important link in the treatment complex. The effect of the patch is aimed at eliminating or relieving the painful symptoms of the disease, improving the quality of life at home without 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 having a negative effect on other systems and organs, the back pain patch delivers the healing substances to the right place, provides sufficient concentration to develop a therapeutic effect and point effect directly on the source of pain.
Properties and types of plasters
The patch is a relatively new form of medicine associated with 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, maintaining 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);
- the active elements quickly penetrate into the superficial blood vessels through the upper layers of the skin, begin to act purposefully and faster than in the forms of oral administration;
- when applied to the skin, a systemic effect is provided, but the substances are absorbed into the inferior or superior vena cava system, bypassing the liver and digestive tract and not undergoing a complex of biochemical transformations (primary hepatic and gastric metabolism) in which drugs aredegrade 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 is due to the continuous delivery of the drug to the body at a rate that creates a constant and close to the minimum level of therapeutic concentration of the drug in the bloodstream;
- absence of withdrawal syndrome with acute end of application;
- possibility to combine with other drugs, physiotherapy procedures and methods of treatment;
- control of the release and prolonged action of the patch to relieve back pain allows to reduce the frequency of administration of the prescribed drug. This in turn minimizes the systemic and local side effects characteristic of prolonged repeated use, the presence and magnitude of the cumulative effect and avoids possible weakening of the pharmacological effect.
Due to its benefits, transdermal therapy is rapidly gaining popularity. Dozens of medical strips with various active substances have been officially registered in the world. All existing patches for the treatment of back pain, based on the composition and principle of exposure, can be divided into groups. This division is conditional, because many of them act on several mechanisms and produce a complex effect when the influence of one active component is complemented by the work of another. Stickers from local and foreign manufacturers are presented on the pharmaceutical market.
In pharmacies you can find products of the following brands, specializing in the production of metered, fully ready-to-use drugs for external use in the form of a patch:
- irritating effect;
- with heat-reflecting coating, dry heat;
- with nonsteroidal or other anti-inflammatory drugs;
- with the addition of medicinal herbs and oils;
- based on substances with chondroprotective action;
- painkillers with local anesthetics;
- nanotechnology.
Browse the most popular patches for the back
The development and implementation of transdermal therapeutic systems changed the idea of the patch as a simple sticker to prevent damage. 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 causes that can cause back pain and heaviness. This can 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 worsen the situation, the pain can not be ignored, it rarely goes away on its own. Treatment must be timely and competent - an integrated approach is needed. Depending on the type and severity of pain, the probable causes of their occurrence, the physiological characteristics of the body, the doctor may prescribe one or another drug.
Only a specialist after research and thorough examination can determine which medical sticker is better, becausethey differ in principle of action and tasks. Brief description and characteristics of the most commonly prescribed back pain relief patches:
- Pepper - the most popular, well-proven. Cheap and effective. Liquid patches-gels are transparent, hypoallergenic, securely fixed. A rush of heat when applying the gel film is felt after 2 minutes. Capsaicin-based stickers (hot capsicum extract) improve blood flow, metabolic processes in the affected area, reduce muscle tension, have a local irritant, warming, antispasmodic and dissolving effect. They relieve pain due to a distracting effect, while the pain is replaced by a burning sensation and tingling. Aggressive, may irritate the skin. Indicated for radiculitis, rheumatic diseases, arthralgic syndrome, neuralgia of the back, lumbago, myalgia of the spinal muscles.
- Category of thermal plasters containing a set of substances (turfan sand, coke, salt, activated carbon, iron and mineral dust, etc. ), capable of heating to 40-58 degrees in just 20 minutes in contact with air and maintaining an optimal temperature for 7-12 hours. This subgroup has a high price and a relatively long list of contraindications. Disposable stickers anesthetize, provide even heating, increased blood circulation, relaxation of constantly tense deep muscle fibers that run along the spine. The warming patch helps with rheumatism, osteochondrosis, myositis of the lumbar or other back muscles, chronic osteoarthritis, sciatica.
- Diclofenac patch masses 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 the pain associated with the inflammatory process of swelling. The synthetic composition of the non-steroidal structure causes the possibility of side effects (the risk increases with prolonged treatment with the patch). They usually bring relief in acute periods of the disease: with inflammation, degenerative changes in the spine, lumbosciatica. Also shown for the back and joints as a means of ensuring rapid recovery from overexertion, injuries, sprains.
- Highly targeted self-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 of the spine.
- Local anesthetic with lidocaine, which is a combination of 2 anesthetics. Strong painkillers, provide dermal anesthesia, the effect is maintained for another 120 minutes after removal of the healing tape from the skin. It is used for neuropathic back pain before injections or superficial surgeries.
- Novelties produced by special technologies. These include the smallest bioactive substances deposited on a polymer base, which can easily penetrate the layers of the epidermis, reach the inflamed area, produce radiation in the infrared region of the spectrum and create a permanent magnetic field. The combined effect of the nanoparticles results in increased local blood flow, improved lymphatic drainage, pain relief, inflammatory reactions, elimination of edema, muscle relaxation and restoration of function. The patches are indicated for sensitivity disorders, pain in the neck, lumbar region on the background of pinched nerve, sciatica, spondylarthrosis, osteochondrosis and other pathologies of the spine.
- Stickers based on medicinal plants - also called Chinese stickers. They are not an official medicine, they are registered as products belonging to the category of sanitary products and cosmetics. The manufacturers emphasize the effectiveness and safety of herbal patches, which are due to the huge amount of useful natural substances that are the basis of the medical plate. There are many variations of self-adhesive tapes and the feedback from them is mostly positive. Disadvantages include frequent allergic reactions and a large number of counterfeits. The scope 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. Not reusable, after removal from the skin should be discarded. After removing the protective tape, the product is applied on a well-cleaned dry skin surface in the area of disturbances 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 skin and cause severe burning. Re-administration 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 one day.
- Thermal patches are rarely attached directly to the naked body, as the perceived temperature can reach high values, so the manufacturer recommends fixing them on fairly tight underwear. After opening the sachet and removing the patch, remove the protective film from it. It must be used immediately and completely - it is forbidden to cut! The maximum duration of use is 10-12 hours a day.
- NSAID patches can only be applied in 24 hours. The maximum daily dose is 30 mg. The duration of the course of treatment should not exceed 21 days.
- Intoxicating patches are applied to the skin in the area of maximum pain. They can be cut, 3 pieces of different parts of the body can be glued at the same time. Application time - 1-5 hours, after which 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 no positive result is observed, then the course of treatment should be completed.
- Chondroprotective patches require long-term use. Recommended regimen: the first week - daily round-the-clock use (when re-applying it is recommended to slightly move the patch so as not to unnecessarily impede skin respiration), 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 another 3 months.
- Nanotechnology patches are used in short courses: acute pain - 3-9 days, exacerbation stage of chronic disease - 9-15 days. After a week of rest 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 mild burning and heat.
Contraindications to use
If we compare different types of patches, using the safety of treatment as a criterion, then high-quality modern developments are most preferred. The list of contraindications for their use is limited to the presence of open wounds, warts, large moles at the sites of fixation of the plates, skin diseases and pregnancy (due to lack of sufficient clinical data confirming the safety of fetal development). The next safest patch is Nano Patch GS, which is banned for treatment by pregnant and lactating women, children and adolescents from 0 to 18 years and persons with individual intolerance to the components. Thermal patches should also not be used in patients with diabetes or heart surgery.
The list is closed with NSAID patches that have the following contraindications:
- hypersensitivity to non-steroidal substances, auxiliary elements of the drug;
- aspirin triad;
- kidney and liver dysfunction;
- chronic course of cardiac dysfunction;
- erosion, gastrointestinal ulcers;
- exacerbation of porphyrin disease;
- adult or child age - 0-15 years;
- 3rd trimester of pregnancy or lactation.
Analogs
The above is a comprehensive list of patches on the pharmaceutical market, they have no analogues in this dosage form. Other dermal medicines, ointments and gels, sprays, including the same active substance, have the closest effect.
Back pain is a reason to consult a doctor immediately, self-medication in any way can cause the development of serious pathology.