Transdermal Pain Management Formulations

The quotes and recommendations below represent a synopsis of a comprehensive CME article “Use of Topical Pain Medications in the Treatment of Various Pain Syndromes” written by Sahar Z. Swidan, PharmD (Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, and Chief Executive Officer of Pharmacy Solutions) and Hagar A. Mohamed, MS (Pharmacist and Researcher, Ann Arbor, Michigan) and published in Topics in Pain Management, February, 2016. 31(7): 1-10.

Topical and transdermal “pain formulations have wide popularity among health care providers and patients when they are used, but there are indications that not all providers are familiar with how to best prescribe them and use them… A study of 120 pain clinicians revealed that only 27% reported frequently prescribing compounded topical pain medications, with a success rate of 47%.” Topical and transdermal preparations are often preferred to oral medications due to decreased systemic side effects and the avoidance of first-pass hepatic metabolism. Dosage forms include creams, ointments, and gels; medication sticks; solutions, and sprays.

Neuropathic Pain

“Neuropathic pain can be treated with capsaicin, tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and local anesthetics.”

Topical amitriptyline 2 to 4% with ketamine 1 to 2% have been compared to placebo. Researchers noted that the higher dose significantly lowered pain intensity, with more subjects attaining 30% reduction in pain and recommended the use of higher doses of amitriptyline coupled with ketamine for longer periods for dull, chronic pain. “In clinical practice, we always recommend starting with the lower dose and slowly titrating upward if needed.” Practitioners should exercise caution regarding potential cardiac adverse effects of ketamine and amitriptyline such as QT prolongation, and consider if the patient is concurrently taking other QT-prolonging medications.

A retrospective study of 51 patients using 2%, 4%, or 6% gabapentin in Lipoderm® cream base 3 times daily for 8 weeks demonstrated a 4 to 5 point reduction in pain scores on a 10-point pain scale. No systemic side effects were reported.

Topical application of 5% lidocaine gel (without occlusion) relieves post-herpetic neuralgia by a direct drug action on painful skin. In a study of 39 patients, no systemic adverse effects were reported and blood levels measured less than 6 μg/ml. However, extreme caution should be exercised when using topical anesthetics because concentration of each agent and amount applied is critical. If topical anesthetics are over- prescribed and over-applied, patients are prone to serious cardiac side effects, such as deadly arrhythmias.

Ketamine 5% gel applied 2 to 3 times a day provided pain relief in 16 of 23 patients with post-herpetic neuralgia. Additionally, Gammaitoni et al. demonstrated the efficacy of topical ketamine in managing mixed neuropathic pain 15 minutes after its administration, with no systemic side effects reported.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS; previously known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) can be treated with NSAIDs; beta-2 agonists, such as clonidine; tricyclic antidepressants; anticonvulsants; local anesthetics; or NMDA antagonists, such as ketamine. It is critical to consider these medications in patients with CRPS, because there are no drugs approved specifically to treat CRPS. Patients with CRPS might require trials of several medications before adequate pain control is achieved.

In a case study of a 42-year-old male diagnosed with CRPS, who was previously treated with high-dose gabapentin, pregabalin, tramadol, and NSAIDs without benefit, topical amitriptyline was chosen as the main therapeutic regimen after his clinical response to oral amitriptyline 25 mg. Amitriptyline 5% cream applied three times a day resulted in 30% reduction in pain after one month. Topical ketamine 10% and dimethyl sulfoxide (as a penetration enhancer) were added to the preparation. After eight months of therapy, applying the cream only once daily, his pain almost disappeared, according to the patient.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Compounded topical creams can play an outstanding role in meeting the needs of patients with diabetic neuropathy-associated pain. In 2015, a study demonstrated good to excellent results in relief of pain associated with diabetic neuropathy and relief of other chronic neuropathic pain with the use of the compounded creams containing ketamine 10%; baclofen 2%; gabapentin 6%; amitriptyline 4%; bupivacaine 2%; and clonidine 0.2%. Nifedipine 2% was added to one cream. Use of the creams resulted in a reduction in the need for oral analgesics and referrals made by physicians to pain specialists. However, these doses were slightly higher than those in other studies that have reported good efficacy. Agents such as nifedipine that increase circulation are beneficial in diabetic neuropathy. As always, start with lower doses and one to two agent combinations as multi-combination creams with five to six ingredients are not needed most of the time.

Vulvodynia

Topical treatments have also been used with success to treat vulvodynia. Formulations used include amitriptyline 2%, baclofen 2% and gabapentin 3% to 6%.

The Future of Topical Pain Medications

Rapid progress is being made to enhance therapeutic action by optimizing delivery of active ingredients in topical formulation administered on the skin and on the buccal mucosa through modifying chemical and physical factors and introducing novel dosage forms, such as vesicles, cyclodextrins, nanoparticles, and other complex systems.

Dr. Swidan’s original blog post can be found here.

 

About Dr. Sahar Swidan

Dr. Swidan obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Michigan and completed a 3-year research fellowship in Bio-Pharmaceutics at the University of Michigan. Previously, she was the Director of Pharmacy at the Chelsea Community Hospital and the clinical pharmacist for the inpatient head and chronic pain service. Currently, she is the President and CEO of Pharmacy Solutions in Ann Arbor, MI, which is a unique, personal and educational specialty pharmacy.

She is also the Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Michigan, College of Pharmacy, and is a board certified and advanced fellow in anti-aging and regenerative medicine. She is an internationally known speaker in the areas of pain management and BHRT, and has authored several books, articles and patient education material in the area of pain management and functional medicine. Currently, Dr. Swidan is completing a Master’s program in Cardio-Metabolic and Functional Medicine.

 

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