BMJ  2004;328:998 (24 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7446.998

Commentary

It's not just about rubbing—topical capsaicin and topical salicylates may be useful as adjuvants to conventional pain treatment

¹ Division of Anaesthesiology, Geneva University Hospitals, CH-1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland martin.tramer@hcuge.ch

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Drugs can be injected (subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intravenously, intrathecally, epidurally); given by mouth (orally, sublingually), intranasally, or rectally; or inhaled. They can also be applied to the skin. The transdermal method is suitable for certain lipid soluble drugs and produces a steady rate of delivery for up to three days. Cutaneous administration is used when a local effect on the skin is required. Drugs may also be applied to the skin to achieve close proximity to the bones or muscles without flooding the organism; this is the case when, for instance, an analgesic cream is applied to a painful knee.

The two reviews by Mason and coworkers (Oxford Pain Research Group) provide evidence that analgesic creams and ointments may be useful for treating some acute and chronic pain.^{1 2} Topical capsaicin, for instance, shows some efficacy in neuropathic pain. Topical salicylates work in strains, sprains, and sport injuries; the same has been . . . [Full text of this article]

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