Diclofenac Topical Gel for the Management of Osteoarthritis and Joint Pain: Real Therapeutic Effect or Just Psychological Effect

Diclofenac topical gel is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) and joint pain due to its enhanced skin penetration and therapeutic benefits. The gel formulation provides a higher flux, allowing better penetration and absorption into underlying tissues than other formulations such as solutions or patches. Upon application, diclofenac reaches therapeutic levels in deeper tissues, including synovial fluid, which helps alleviate pain and inflammation while reducing systemic side effects, which are a major concern for OA patients with comorbid conditions. The sustained release mechanism of the gel maintains therapeutic levels over time, contributing to prolonged pain relief. In addition, combination formulations incorporating penetration enhancers or active ingredients can further boost the efficacy of diclofenac gel. Moreover, diclofenac gel demonstrates therapeutic benefits, with measurable pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects, making it a preferred choice of clinicians. However, topical counterirritants provide a paradoxical pain-relieving effect and caution is needed as topical analgesics with counterirritants, such as capsaicin, can cause severe skin injuries, including chemical burns.

Keywords

Counterirritants, Diclofenac topical gel, Osteoarthritis, Skin penetration, Therapeutic efficacy

Citation

Chinnaswami K, Hegde A, Davis D, Raffic M, Srampickal GM, Kumar SS, George MJ. . Diclofenac Topical Gel for the Management of Osteoarthritis and Joint Pain: Real Therapeutic Effect or Just Psychological Effect. International Journal of Scientific Study. 2024 Dec; 12(9): 1-9

URI

https://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/246955

Collections

International Journal of Scientific Study

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