Research pushes back on benefits of compounded topical pain creams. Compounded topical pain creams and gels work about as well as placebos, study shows. Other: Compounded Pain Cream All patients will have been prescribed a topical pain cream prepared by a qualified compounding pharmacy. used in compounded pain creams, their mechanism of action, and the reported adverse effects of topical administration. Compounded Pain Creams and Adverse Effects Some compounding pharmacies are preparing compounded pain creams and ointments that contain a combination of multiple potent medications. Evid Based Nurs. Finally, Congress demanded evidence for the efficacy of the creams.Cohen says the conceptual appeal of the creams is that they appear to be a safer way to get pain relief without the risks or side effects of potentially addictive or dangerous drugs that are usually given orally or by injection.The compounded creams and gels generally contain one or more prescription or other anesthetic, analgesic, sedative, antidepressant, anti-seizure or muscle relaxant drugs that are used to treat pain.To explore the effectiveness of these creams, the researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled study at Walter Reed from August 2015 to February 2018. Similarly, the Medicare Part D program paid out more than half a billion dollars for the creams in 2015. Of note, ACD has only been described to a few of the ingredients used in topical compounded pain medications, and these cases are dis-cussed where applicable. In the mixed-pain group, participants used cream containing ketamine, gabapentin, diclofenac, baclofen, cyclobenzaprine and lidocaine.Cohen cautioned that the new study was somewhat limited in terms of applicability for specific conditions, in part because of the wide variety of medical conditions and pain disorders among the participants. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008609.pub2.de Leeuw TG, Mangiarini L, Lundin R, Kaguelidou F, van der Zanden T, Pasqua OD, Tibboel D, Ceci A, de Wildt SN; GAPP consortium.Trials. In an effort to reduce chronic pain, many people look for hope by paying $20 to thousands of dollars for a tube of prescription topical pain cream or gel. ScienceDaily, 5 February 2019. ; Maj. David E. Reece, M.D., U.S. Army; Petty Officer 1st Class Lisa M. Solomon, B.S., U.S. Navy; Col. Scott R. Griffith, M.D., U.S. Army; and David E. Jamison, M.D., and Mark C. Bicket, M.D., from Johns Hopkins.Primary funding for the research came from the Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research, Defense Health Agency, U.S. Department of Defense.© The Johns Hopkins University, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Health System. In addition, capsaicin, a pepper derivative commonly used in lotions and creams for muscle pain, could not be used in the study compounds because the recognizable smell and application requirements would have undermined the double-blinding process that kept both caregivers and subjects unaware if they were getting active creams or placebos.However, Cohen says, considering the high cost and relatively minor benefits from the creams, routine prescription and use of these compounded creams is not a good idea and does not move forward efforts being made toward high value health care.Other researchers who participated in the study are Parvaneh Moussavian-Yousefi, Pharm.D. Often at least one of the ingredients is also found in an FDA-approved topical pain cream, such as lidocaine. A report of the study is published in the Feb. 5 issue of “Our study of nearly 400 pain patients suggests that people who use these compounded creams and gels are being taken advantage of, because the scientific evidence to support a benefit is not there,” says . In the mixed-pain group, participants used cream containing ketamine, gabapentin, diclofenac, baclofen, cyclobenzaprine and lidocaine.Cohen cautioned that the new study was somewhat limited in terms of applicability for specific conditions, in part because of the wide variety of medical conditions and pain disorders among the participants.