Pain Management For Physical & Neuropathic Pain: Compound Alternatives to Oral Medications

Topical and transdermal creams and gels can be formulated to provide high local concentrations at the site of application. Side effects associated with oral administration can often be avoided when medications are used topically. Studies suggest that there are no great restrictions on the type of drug that can be incorporated into a properly compounded transdermal gel. When medications are administered transdermally, they are not absorbed through the gastrointestinal system and do not undergo first-pass hepatic metabolism.

If you are a practitioner, please contact our compounding pharmacist to discuss the dosage form, strength, and medication or combination that is most appropriate for your patient. If you personally suffer from acute or chronic pain, our highly trained pharmacists will work closely with your doctor to identify and a personalized treatment plan.

ALTERNATE DOSAGE FORMS

Because of Fusion Specialty Pharmacy’s ability to create different methods of delivery, we can help reduce stomach irritation or other unpleasant side effects. Instead of a capsule or tablet, pain medications can often be compounded as::

• A topical gel, cream or spray form that can be applied directly to the site of the pain and absorbed through the skin.

• A custom-flavored troche that dissolves under the tongue, a nasal spray, or a suppository.

Such dosage forms may bypass the gastrointestinal tract, providing optimal results with less GI irritation, and help patients who have difficulty swallowing pills, removing yet another source of aggravation.

VARIATIONS IN DOSAGE STRENGTH

Because patients vary in size, symptoms, and pain tolerance, Fusion Specialty Pharmacy can customize a dosage form that best suits the patient’s needs, which is a service that most patients cannot attain with over-the-counter medications. Fusion Specialty Pharmacy may also help improve a patient’s quality of life by providing relief with potentially fewer treatment plan.

PAIN MANAGEMENT SPECIALTIES INCLUDE:

• Combination Therapy
• Inflammatory/Arthritis Pain
• Iontophoresis / Phonophoresis
• Fibromyalgia Pain
• Migraine Pain (video)
• Muscle Tension/Spasms
• Neuropathic Pain
• NSAID Therapy
• Topical Anesthetics before Laser Treatments
• Topical Opioids
• And more

NEUROPATHIC PAIN

Neuropathic pain may result from disorders of the peripheral or central nervous system. Neuropathic pain syptoms can be caused from disease, diabetes, cancer treatments, surgery, trauma and/or injury to the body.

ADVANTAGES OF TOPICAL TREATMENTS

Topical therapies and combination preparations may have many advantages over orally administered pain relievers, especially for the elderly. Fewer side effects, painless administration, and reduced treatment costs are among them. There is growing evidence on the effectiveness and safety of topical agents in a variety of pain disorders, including the most prevalent neuropathic pain conditions.

Neuropathic pain is often resistant to opioids, so other medication classes – such as tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and local anesthetics – are often used. Central sensitization, or pain “wind-up”, may perpetuate chronic  pain even when ongoing peripheral sensory input is absent. Wind-up is thought to cause allodynia, hyperalgesia, and hyperpathia. Receptors such as N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), and Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) have recently been identified for their role in central sensitization and antagonists of these receptors have produced pain relief.

If you or a loved one suffer from neuropathic pain, please check with a physician to review your medication options. We will gladly work with your doctor to develop appropriate medical therapy.