Counterirritants. Ingredients such as menthol, methyl salicylate (oil of evergreen), and camphor are called counterirritants because they create a burning or cooling sensation that distracts your mind from the pain. Lidocaine. This medicine numbs pain. It comes as a gel or a patch that you apply to the painful area. Talk to your doctor first if you have liver problems or take heart rhythm drugs. Possible benefits include topical pain relief for conditions such as arthritis or internal pain relief such as a sore throat.

Medicinal forms | Levomenthol | Drugs | BNF | NICE

Prescription NSAIDs. Topical forms of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have fewer of the typical NSAID side effects, like stomach upset and bleeding. Don’t use them if you’re also taking oral NSAIDs. Is your skin or body temperature being lowered? No, but it is able to induce the psychophysical sensation of cold by interacting with the part of the sensory nervous system related to cold detection Uses and ProductsWhen applied to the skin, menthol has a local analgesic or anesthetic effect so it can help to provide pain relief for conditions such as arthritis. Research shown that including it in topical creams for arthritis can help to decrease pain and improve movement. Groninger H, Schisler RE. Topical capsaicin for neuropathic pain #255. J Palliat Med. 2012;15(8):946-947. doi:10.1089/jpm.2012.9571

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Cold numbs sore areas. It is especially helpful for the pain and swelling of an arthritis flare or joint injury, such as a sprained ankle. Cold may reduce inflammation by constricting blood flow to the injured area. Georgia Department of Community Health: "Arthritis pain relief: Creams and gels for aching joints." What makes Dermacool different to other aqueous creams is that it contains Menthol. Menthol triggers the cold receptors in the skin which offers soothing and cooling relief. The aqueous cream helps restore natural moisture levels in the skin.Derry S, Rice AS, Cole P, Tan T, Moore RA. Topical capsaicin (High concentration) for chronic neuropathic pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;1:CD007393. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007393.pub4. These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical menthol medicine (including topical agents for pain relief as well as nasal inhalers and cough drops) Some researchers believe that including menthol in cigarettes raises the risk for addiction and may even be more toxic than regular cigarettes.

Creams, Gels, and Rubs - WebMD Topical Pain Relief: Creams, Gels, and Rubs - WebMD

Sommer C, Cruccu G. Topical treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain: applying the evidence. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2017;53(3):614-629. doi.org:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.09.015 Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a common consequence of unaccustomed exercise or overtraining especially with the inclusion of extensive eccentric contractions. 1 DOMS is commonly observed with athletes, weight lifters, and is frequently observed among recreational athletes. 1 The presence of DOMS inhibits muscle activity or motor performance for up to several days following the initiating event. 2 One of the major symptoms of DOMS is pain 1 which can cause inhibition of force production of the involved muscle. 1, 3 There are many common uses of menthol in products today as a flavor, cooling agent and/or disinfect.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: "Pharmacologic management of neuropathic pain: evidence-based recommendations."

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Another possible mechanism for the analgesic effect of menthol may be related to the inflammation or swelling associated with DOMS. 4 Olive et al. 24 reported a significant reduction in vascular conductance within 60s of menthol application, which was maintained for at least 10 minutes. Similarly animal studies have shown a reduced pressor response to exercise (decreased blood pressure) reducing blood flow to the application area. 42, 43 Unfortunately the extent of swelling was not measured in the present study and thus the effect of the menthol gel on DOMS-induced inflammation cannot be verified or quantified in this study. Hence, the mechanisms underlying the lower soreness scores on the VAS cannot be specified in the present study but may be attributed to one or a combination of inflammation reduction, counterirritant activation and inhibition of specific thermosensitive ion channels, or opioid receptors.Topical painkillers, or analgesics, are sprayed on, rubbed in, or applied as patches onto the skin over painful muscles or joints. Although all are designed to relieve pain, different products use different ingredients. Here are some of the most common.