Pain Relief May Be As Close as Your Compounding Pharmacy
By Michael McLendon, Pharmacist, Meridian Pharmacy, Texoma LIVNG WELL Magazine
Pharmacy compounding is the art and science of preparing customized medications for patients. Its practice dates back to the origins of pharmacy. Today, the pharmacist’s role in preparing pain relief medications by compounding has experienced resurgence, as modern technology and innovative techniques and research have allowed more pharmacists to customize pain relief medications to meet specific patient needs.
Compounded topical pain relief medications are a viable option to oral medicines. These are commonly available in creams, lotions, and gels.
A recent survey of nearly 3,600 chronic pain sufferers nationwide reveals that more than 83% of them reported a significant reduction in their pain after using compounded prescription pain creams, applied topically. Patients who responded to the survey said the creams were able to reduce their pain levels by more than half, on average, with more than 5% of respondents saying the creams completely eliminated their pain. In addition, 38% reported reducing other oral pain medications while using the creams.
Patient Outcomes Analytics (POA), a research organization, surveyed chronic pain sufferers around the United States and found that more than 83% of patients queried said their pain had eased since starting their use of the non-opioid prescription creams. In addition, they reported an average reduction of 57% in their pain level after directly applying the creams to the site of their pain, such as their back or neck, for the most recent 24-hour period. Using questions from the MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), it also found that after four weeks of using the creams, patients reported significant improvement in their physical and emotional quality of life. Six percent of the patients reported minor adverse effects such as rashes.
The results demonstrate the ability of locally applied prescription creams to deliver significant pain relief over time to many patients, without the need for patients to rely on opioids and other narcotics. Additionally, most topical compounded prescription pain creams do not need opioids or other narcotics to be effective.
The survey confirms what prescribing doctors have known for some time; that locally applied creams, customized and formulated to meet the specific needs of each individual, are capable of delivering significant benefits, with the potential of reducing addiction to opioids for untold thousands of Americans.
Compounded topical pain relief medications are available by prescription only.
Talk with your physician about topical pain relief. If he or she determines that you may benefit from using a pain relief compound, Meridian Pharmacy can assist in formulating a compound to fit your specific needs.
