Efficacy and safety of topical analgesic agents for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain

Abstract

According to a prior systematic study, systemic NSAIDs effectively ease pain associated with chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis and tendinitis. A new evaluation is required in light of more trials, improved knowledge reclassification of some drugs, and trial quality and bias evaluation. Electronic database searches and letters to manufacturers assisted in finding studies for adults with persistent pain and discovered randomized, double-anonymized studies contrasting topical NSAID with a successful placebo treatment. At two weeks, 50% less pain was an important result; secondary results included local and systemic problems and withdrawals given negative incidents. Utilizing sensitivity and number-needed-to-harm (NNH) analyses as well as estimations of relative benefit, the impacts of reported outcome, trial size, reported trial quality, and condition treated are still assessed. There are 14 studies total, including 12 new trials and 13 trials of an earlier evaluation. Nearly 1,500 patients were involved in 14 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. With a relative benefit of 1.9 and an NNT of 4.6, topical NSAID considerably outperformed a placebo. The trial's validity, quality, and size, a given outcome, treated affect findings. There was no difference in effectiveness between oral and topical NSAIDs in three studies, including 764 participants. Topical NSAIDs and placebos caused 6% of local adverse events, 3% of systemic adverse events, and patient withdrawals because of adverse events. Topically applied NSAIDs for two weeks offered a secure and effective treatment for long-term musculoskeletal conditions. Larger and longer studies are required to explain a part of topical NSAIDs in healthcare properly.