title: Topical agents for the treatment of chronic pain.
abstract: Unlike systemic analgesics, topical analgesics exert their analgesic activity locally and without significant systemic absorption. This is in contrast to transdermal analgesics, which require systemic absorption for clinical benefit. The mechanism of action of a particular topical analgesic is unique to the specific medication being used as a topical analgesic. Topical analgesics have been studied in an increasing number of painful clinical conditions, and the results of some of these studies are summarized in this article. The potential role of topical analgesics acting peripherally in affecting the central processing of pain as well as painful states considered to be "central," not "peripheral," also are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: North Shore University Hospital/NYU School of Medicine, Cohn Pain Management Center, Bethpage, NY 11714, USA. pargoff@optonline.net
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Argoff
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002211:Capsaicin