For Muscle Pain, Topical Nsaids Beat Pills

Europeans, the New York Times reports, have for many years been able to buy nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or Nsaids, in gels, creams, sprays and patches to ease muscle
and joint pain, while on our side of the Atlantic the first  topical Nsaids was approved
just three years ago, for prescription use only, with a “black box”
insert warning of side effects. Politics aside, do the topical Nsaids work? The answer, the Times reports, is yes indeed. Several controlled trials and meta-analyses suggest that
topical Nsaids are as effective as their oral counterparts for treating osteoarthritis in the knee and hand as well
as musculoskeletal injuries like soreness and tendinitis. Wait, there's more: "The advantage of a skin cream is that it bypasses the stomach and
much of the bloodstream, theoretically minimizing serious side effects." the Times reports. "Oral Nsaids can be toxic to the kidneys, and they increase the risk of gastrointentinal bleeding. And
some, including Vioxx and Bextra, were taken off the market after
they were linked to heart attacks and strokes."

Read more about topical Nsaids in the New York Times.