Management of pain using transdermal patches

Abstract

Transdermal delivery is a non-invasive route of drug administration through the skin surface that can deliver the drug at a predetermined rate across the dermis to achieve a local or systemic effect. It is potentially used as an alternative to oral route of drugs and hypodermic injections. Analgesics are mostly used for various diseases as most of them are associated with severe or mild pain. The use of analgesics as a pain relief patch is now being used commonly. A transdermal analgesic or pain relief patch is a medicated adhesive patch used to relieve minor to severe pain. Currently, the patches are available for many opioids, non-opioids analgesics. local anesthetics, and antianginal drugs. The drugs include fentanyl, buprenorphine ketoprofen, diclofenacepolamine, piroxicam, capsaicin, nitroglycerine, and lignocaine. They are available as both matrix and reservoir patches. This review explores the various drugs used to manage pain and their route of administration in terms of frequency, complications, and effects.

<p>Characteristics of Analgesic Patch Formulations</p>

“…Transdermal patch systems can provide for the controlled and prolonged delivery of drugs with less fluctuation of circulating drug levels (reduced peaks and troughs) that occur with oral administration. 10,11 Delivery of drugs by patch systems can avoid first-pass metabolism and may help minimize GI side effects. [12][13][14][15] Patients generally find that patch systems are convenient to use and thus have the potential to improve compliance over timed or scheduled dosing.…”

“…The use of the transdermal patch systems may also have compliance advantages over oral opioids in patients with difficulty swallowing or with vomiting problems. 11 Compared with oral morphine products, transdermal fentanyl may also be a preferred agent for patients with renal impairment. 11 There are three approaches used in opioid patch systems that provide for long-term continual delivery of the drug.…”

“…These can include avoidance of first-pass metabolism and gastrointestinal (GI) issues, limited systemic exposure and others. [10][11][12][13][14][15] Different technologies and ingredients are utilized to optimize patch delivery systems. The design of the patch system and its physical characteristics, active pharmaceutical drug, excipients, penetration enhancers and adhesives help determine the ultimate delivery of the analgesic drug to its targets.…”

Bell’s Palsy Among Infants - Our Experiences in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Eastern India

“…The mean duration of recovery in this study was 3.5 weeks which is comparable to that Dhiravibulya (6.61 weeks) [12] and Sunil Kumar (6.5 weeks) [13] where they treated with multivitamins as placebo along with physiotherapy without oral steroids. Mastoid surgery has no role in these cases [14,15].…”

A Comparative Study of Efficacy and Safety of Lornoxicam and Diclofenac as Postoperative Analgesics After Mastoidectomy Surgery

“…On the other hand, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used in the postoperative pain management to avoid the adverse effects associated with the opioids [5]. The advantages of NSAIDs are its local action without developing central adverse effects and cognitive defects [6]. NSAIDs which are effective in the treatment of pain have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects [7].…”