By the way, doctor: Are NSAIDs available in a patch?
Topical NSAIDs have some obvious advantages, especially for localized muscle, tendon, or joint pain. The medication is concentrated in the tissue where it is applied, and this reduces the risk of gastrointestinal side effects, at least in the short term (one to two weeks of daily use). Skin irritation also seems to be uncommon. However, the long-term effects still need to be explored. Regular long-term use may raise levels of the drug in the bloodstream and cause gastrointestinal symptoms. For now, NSAID patches are designed for local pain relief, not systemic treatment.
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