Notes for: Rubefacients & Other Top.AntirheumaticsLast edited [21/08/2013 16:00:10]
1. Rubefacients are not recommended for use in patients with osteoarthritis. Rubefacients act by counter-irritation. Counter-irritation is comforting in painful lesions of the muscles, tendons and joints and non-articular rheumatism. Rubefacients differ mainly in intensity and duration of action.
2. MHRA Drug Safety Update (Aug 2010) Ketoprofen: Patients should ensure that treated areas are protected from sunlight during the whole period of topical ketoprofen treatment and for 2 weeks after stopping treatment; they should also carefully wash their hands after every application. Patients should stop treatment immediately if they develop any skin reaction after application of these medicines and seek their doctor’s advice. Patients should be informed of the appropriate use of topical ketoprofen as outlined in the product information.
3. NICE clinical guideline 59 - Osteoarthritis: Paracetamol and/or topical NSAIDs should be offered to patients with knee or hand osteoarthritis before considering oral NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors or opioids. Treatment should be reviewed after 2 weeks and stopped if not effective.
4. Zacin is used in osteoarthritis whilst Axsain is used in painful diabetic neuropathy.