Counterirritants and sensory profiling of pain-relieving patches

Introduction: Musculoskeletal pain is a common medical and socioeconomic problem worldwide. Treatment management options most commonly include analgesics such as paracetamol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), topical over-the-counter (OTC) preparations. Patients often use OTC owing to the benefits shown by clinical studies for treatment of musculoskeletal injuries disorders. The aim this study was (1) review background, current understanding, therapeutic usefulness counterirritants (2) evaluate sensorial characteristics two prototype patches containing counterirritants, designed manage relief delivering warming or cooling sensation. Methods: Detailed literature search conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library databases review. An expert sensory panel comprising ten trained experts performance their including overall sensation, cooling, warming, tingling sensations, well functional parameters ease application removal, adhesive property, odor intensity, staining on clothes, residue greasiness, sweat/moistness skin after removal. Results: Topical like capsaicin, menthol, salicylates produce analgesia activating then desensitizing epidermal nociceptors. Literature searches provide evidence pain. showed that sensations elicited counterirritant were predominantly tingling, low short nature, with strong adhesion, no staining, little grease skin, lingering menthol. Conclusion: supports backache, strains, sprains. In addition, observations from evaluating these lasting stain grease. These results support potential modality increased consumer acceptance, potentially increasing adherence maximizing effectiveness therapies. And may be used part multimodal regimens conditions.