Topical medications are usually prescribed for symptomatic treatment. Additionally, various drugs for oral and intravenous administration are used with them. In this combination, therapy is more effective. This article will focus on the drug "Flexen" (gel). Instructions for use will be presented to your attention. You can also read reviews about this medicine and its main analogues.
What is it?
How can I describe the Flexen gel? Instructions for use say that this tool belongs to a number of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is intended for external use only. The main active ingredient of the drug is ketoprofen. One gram of medicine has 25 milligrams of this component. Additional compounds are also present. Among them are glycerol, ethanol, purified water and others. They do not have a therapeutic effect on the body. However, with the help of additional components, an appropriate form of the medication is obtained.
The drug "Flexen" has other forms of release. These are oral capsules and rectal suppositories. They also contain the main active ingredient - ketoprofen. Additional components have a different look and distinguishing names.
"Flexen" (gel): analogues
Often when prescribing a drug, the consumer tries to find its analogue. What is it for? In most cases, a person has a single goal - saving. Having picked up a substitute, the patient can spend a smaller amount. However, such success is not always truly fruitful. Often, substitutes for a particular remedy are simply ineffective. Therefore, in order not to be in a similar situation, it is necessary to consult with doctors before choosing a drug.
The medicine "Flexen" (gel), like many other medicines, has its own substitutes. When selecting an analogue, the composition of the prescribed medication is always taken into account. Absolute substitutes for drugs are those drugs that contain the same active substance. These include Fastum Gel, Ketoprofen, Ketonal, Febrofid, Arthrosilen. The most inexpensive of these funds can be considered Ketoprofen gel. When you purchase it, you will need to pay no more than 60 rubles. Whereas the original Flexen remedy costs at least 200. It is worth saying that there are even more expensive analogues of the drug.
Prescription of a medicinal product
Before starting treatment, it is worthwhile to understand in what situations a person may need Flexen gel. Instructions for use say that the indications for the use of the medication are inflammatory diseases accompanied by pain. To be more precise, these are the following cases:
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system: arthrosis, arthritis, bursitis;
- myalgia and neuralgia;
- joint injuries and bruises (including professional athletes);
- postoperative pain;
- algodismenorea;
- renal colic of various origins.
A word to specialists
Doctors say that "Flexen" (gel) from a hygroma is often prescribed. In this case, the medicine has almost no effect on the disease itself. It only eliminates the signs of its manifestation. It is worth recalling that hygroma usually occurs due to injury. In the early stages, the disease does not manifest itself in any way, and subsequently rather unpleasant sensations appear.
Doctors also recommend using "Flexen" (gel) after removing this formation. The drug will help relieve pain, swelling and inflammation. The medicine will facilitate the rapid healing of the wound.
Limitations of use: pay special attention to them
Like all medicines, “Flexen” (gel) has its contraindications. The instruction says that the medication for external use is never used with hypersensitivity to any component. It is contraindicated to use the composition in case of renal or liver failure, as well as pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract in the acute phase.
Some blood diseases are incompatible with this therapy, for example, leukopenia, thrombosis, coagulation disorder. The tool is not used in pediatrics for children under the age of 15. The drug is contraindicated in pregnant women and nursing mothers. If an allergic reaction to acetylsalicylic acid or other NSAIDs was previously observed, then the medication should be replaced with another remedy.
Gel "Flexen": instructions for use
As you already know, the drug is applied exclusively to the surface of the skin. It is forbidden to use the medication inside. Lubrication of the mucous membranes is also unacceptable. Dosage and duration of use are usually chosen by the doctor. If the specialist has not given you individual recommendations, then you need to follow the algorithm that the instruction talks about.
The abstract recommends applying the medicine directly to the affected area. The layer should be thin. Wash your hands first. Multiplicity of application - 2 or 3 times a day (as needed). The duration of therapy is two weeks. Without consulting a doctor, it is forbidden to use the composition for a long time.
Chance of side effects
The drug "Flexen" (gel) has good reviews from consumers. However, there are patients who are still dissatisfied with the use of the ointment. Doctors say that most of these situations are self-treatment. A consumer without a doctor’s prescription uses a medication, and then complains about negative reactions. All because of the wrong dose and treatment regimen.
Most often, the medicine causes allergies in patients. It is manifested by burning, itching and redness of the skin. With prolonged use of large doses, a person may begin to experience dizziness, nausea, and headache. On the part of the digestive system, side effects are extremely rare. More often they are observed when using tablets or rectal suppositories. If you feel worse during treatment, then you should go to the doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will conduct an examination and, if necessary, replace the treatment.
Positive opinions
Most consumers talk about the drug only in a positive tone. Patients claim that the medicine works very quickly. After the first application, a decrease in pain occurs within a few minutes. The effect of the drug is quite long. For about 4-6 hours, a person can forget about what bothered him. Many patients use the medication before bedtime. The medicine helps them sleep peacefully and not worry about the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.
Also, some consumers report that the product has an unpleasant odor. But these are solely individual opinions. The product is well absorbed into the skin and does not leave a sticky coating. Also, the composition does not stain clothes. But you need to wait a while after application to completely absorb the ointment.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the reviews of women. Many people use Flexen gel during menstruation. Why is this done? There are groups of women who, for one reason or another, do not want or cannot take oral painkillers. In such situations, Fleksen Gel comes to the rescue. It must be rubbed into the painful area according to the instructions. After a while, a woman begins to feel much better. Doctors do not recommend using this method regularly. To completely eliminate painful menstruation, you should consult a gynecologist.
Some women reported using the gel during pregnancy. In this case, the composition did not affect the health of the child. Indeed, the drug does not have a toxic effect in the indicated doses. This information is reported by the manufacturer. However, he does not recommend a similar use of the described drug. Gynecologists categorically prohibit the use of the gel on their own, especially in the first trimester. After all, it is then that the basic formation of the systems and all organs of the unborn child occurs. If you have troubling symptoms, then you should consult a doctor to get the right appointment. It is also necessary to obtain the permission of the gynecologist to use the drug.
To summarize
You have learned how Flexen gel is used (instructions for use). The medicine is sold in almost every pharmacy chain. It is dispensed without a special recipe. Often in the absence of the necessary drug, pharmacists recommend its analogues. However, doctors strongly advise against this trick. Remember that you cannot predict how an unknown drug will affect your condition. Try to get exactly what the doctor recommended. You feel good, do not be sick!