Pain management is a key component of healthcare. That’s why we offer pain medication to help physicians care for their patients and support their full recovery.
Pain isn’t just a symptom of an underlying health issue, it also keeps patients from working productively, enjoying hobbies, or taking pleasure in their daily lives.
Chronic vs. Acute Pain
Acute pain is sudden and has a specific cause. It often feels sharp and doesn’t last longer than six months. Acute pain may be caused by surgery, broken bones, dental work, burns, cuts, labor, and childbirth.
Chronic pain, on the other hand, may be associated with conditions such as headache, arthritis, cancer, nerve pain, fibromyalgia, and back pain. Chronic pain can cause additional conditions and have serious emotional effects.
Chronic pain can be caused by a multitude of factors, and therefore can be very difficult to manage than acute pain. Oftentimes, chronic pain requires a multidisciplinary approach and customized treatment to effectively treat and manage pain.
Pain Management Medication
Pain management may involve pain-relieving medication, antidepressants, antiviral agents, anticonvulsants, anesthetics, antiarrhythmics, and NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) antagonists.
NMDA-receptor antagonists, such as dextromethorphan and ketamine, work to block pain signals in the dorsal horn spinal neurons, reduce nociception, and decrease the need for opioid analgesics. This combination utilizes multiple mechanisms to alter the sensation of pain, while using smaller concentrations of each medication.
The Benefits of Topical Medication
Topical and transdermal creams and gels, on the other hand, can be formulated to provide high levels of pain relief for trigger point application (e.g., combinations of medications for neuropathic pain), for a particular location (e.g., NSAIDs for joint pain), or in a base that will allow systemic absorption. Topical medications may allow patients to avoid the side effects associated with oral administration.
There aren’t any significant restrictions on the type of drugs that can be incorporated into a compounded transdermal gel. This is because transdermal medications aren’t absorbed through the gastrointestinal system and do not undergo first-pass hepatic metabolism.
Topical and transdermal formulations are often preferred to oral medications due to lower risk of whole-body side effects and the bypass metabolism. Pain management medication may be created in the form of creams, gels, ointments, solutions, medication sticks, and sprays.
Topical and transdermal pain formulations are preferred by many health care providers and patients, but not all providers know how best to prescribe and use them.
Compounded Medication Options For Pain Management
Compounded pain management medication may include:
- Corticosteroids – such as dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, & triamcinolone
- Muscle relaxants – such as cyclobenzaprine, & baclofen
- NSAIDs – such as ketoprofen, ibuprofen, & diclofenac
- Nerve pain modifiers – such as amitriptyline, gabapentin, ketamine, & clonidine
- Topical anesthetics – such as benzocaine, lidocaine, & tetracaine
Dosage forms for pain management medication include:
- Capsules
- Dissolving sublingual troches
- Suppositories
- Topical creams & gels
- Sugar-free lollipops
At Brigent Specialty Pharmacy, our team collaborates with healthcare practitioners to create custom medications that meet the unique health care goals of each individual patient. We encourage physicians to contact our compounding pharmacist to discuss dosage form, strength, and medication or combination that is most appropriate for their patient.