Inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal drug are considered a fairly common problem. Such ailments are accompanied by pains, which, fortunately, can at least partially be removed with the help of medicines. Quetoprofen (gel) is considered to be a rather good local drug. Instructions for use, indications and contraindications, patient reviews and possible adverse reactions are the main issues that interest many patients.
Composition and form of release of the drug
This product is available in the form of a colorless transparent gel of light texture. The main active substance in this case is ketoprofen. One gram of medicine contains 25 or 50 mg of this component (2.5% or 5%) - the doctor will help you determine the correct dosage.
Of course, some auxiliary substances are present in the composition, including ethanol, carbopol, purified water, trolamine and lavender oil. The gel is placed in aluminum tubes of 30 or 50 g.
By the way, there are other forms of release of the drug "Ketoprofen" - injections (injection for ampoules) and tablets. But these types of drugs affect the body not locally, but systemically. For serious problems, doctors often prescribe a combination of gel and tablets or injections.
What pharmacological properties does the drug have?
This drug belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Its effect is associated with the ability of ketoprofen to inhibit the activity of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2, which regulate the synthesis of prostaglandins. Thus, the gel has a local analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
If the patient has articular syndrome, this gel also reduces the characteristic morning stiffness, relieves swelling from the joints and reduces the severity of arthralgia at rest and during movement. However, the drug does not have a catabolic effect on articular cartilage.
The medicine acts locally, enters the systemic circulation very slowly and in low concentrations. The bioavailability of ketoprofen is not more than 5%.
Indications for use
Many patients are interested in questions about in which cases it is advisable to use the drug "Ketoprofen." Its use is indicated in the presence of the following disorders:
- acute and chronic forms of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, including radiculitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, bursitis, lumbago, exacerbation of gout with articular syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, sciatica, osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome, tendon and ligament inflammation ;
- post-traumatic inflammation of the soft tissues and elements of the musculoskeletal system, including bruises, tears and damage to ligaments;
- muscle pain of various origins, including rheumatic.
It is worth noting that this drug is intended only to eliminate the symptoms and local slowdown of the inflammatory process. It can not replace the full therapy and does not affect the further progression of the disease.
The drug "Ketoprofen" (gel): instructions for use
The drug is recommended to be applied to clean, dry skin, rubbing it with gentle massage movements until completely absorbed. Dosage is determined individually by the attending physician. However, adults and adolescents over 12 years of age are generally advised to apply no more than 3-5 cm of the gel at a time. The procedure can be repeated three times a day.
For the treatment of children aged 6 to 12 years, no more than 1-2 cm of gel is used no more than twice a day. The duration of therapy in most cases is about 1-2 weeks. Longer use is possible only with the permission of a doctor.
Are there any contraindications for use?
Can Ketoprofen (gel) be used for all categories of patients? Instructions for use indicate that this medicine has a number of contraindications.
It is not prescribed for people with hypersensitivity to ketoprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances. The gel should never be applied to damaged skin (for example, wounds, scratches, infected abrasions, eczema, weeping dermatoses are a contraindication).
We should also talk about women expecting a baby. The gel can in no case be used in the third trimester of pregnancy. But during the first and second trimester, its use is allowed if the expected benefit to the mother exceeds the possible risks to the growing fetus. The gel should not be used during lactation (if therapy is required, breastfeeding is recommended to be interrupted for a while). The medicine has some age restrictions - it is not prescribed for children under the age of 6 years.
Contraindications also include a combination of recurrent hay fever, asthma and intolerance to acetylsalicylic acid, as well as some other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
With caution, the drug is used in the treatment of people suffering from chronic heart failure, liver porphyria, asthma, erosion and tongue of the digestive tract, severe impaired liver and kidney function.
Side effects and possible complications
Are there any complications that may occur during treatment with Ketoprofen (gel)? Instructions for use state that side effects are possible, although they are extremely rare.
For the most part, complications are associated with allergic reactions, which are manifested by skin rashes, redness, and itching. Less commonly, during therapy, urticaria, eczema, allergic dermatitis, exanthema, purpura, photodermatitis and hyperemia of the skin develop . Stomatitis is extremely rare. Cases of systemic adverse reactions have not been reported.
How much is the drug?
For many patients, the cost of a drug is a very important point. And often they are interested in the question of how much the Ketoprofen (gel) drug will cost. The price will depend on many factors, including the dose of the active component, the volume of the tube, the manufacturer, the financial policy of the pharmacy, etc. All these factors must be taken into account.
So how much does Ketoprofen (gel) cost on average? The price of a tube with 30 g of gel and an active substance concentration of 2.5% ranges from 55 to 65 rubles. The cost of packaging with 50 g of gel is 70-80 rubles. A drug with a concentration of 5% is slightly more expensive - for 30 g of this medicine you will need to pay about 100-120 rubles. Agree that this amount can hardly be called large, since other popular anti-inflammatory drugs are much more expensive.
Ketoprofen gel: analogues and substitutes
In some cases, this drug is not suitable for patients. Therefore, many are interested in the question of what can replace the Ketoprofen gel.
Analogues of this medicine, of course, exist, and in the modern pharmaceutical market you can find a lot of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments. But, again, do not self-medicate - only the attending physician can prescribe a substitute.
By the way, according to statistics, today it is Ketoprofen Verte Gel from the Russian manufacturer that is most popular. But the same effect is possessed by such well-known and well-publicized products as Fastum-Gel and Ketonal. The list of analogues includes “Bystrumgel”, “Artrum”, “Flexen”, “Ketosprey” and “Flamex”. You can choose the right medicine from foreign pharmaceutical companies, such as Arthrosilen or Febrofid.
Reviews of doctors and patients
In modern medical practice, Ketoprofen (gel) is often used. The doctors' reviews about him are mostly positive, since the gel perfectly copes with its main task, while rarely causing any side effects.
Patients who have already managed to take this drug also for the most part leave positive reviews. For many, this gel has become an integral part of a home medicine cabinet. Patients note that the pain begins to subside after the first application. The gel is quickly and easily absorbed without leaving greasy marks on the skin and clothing. The undoubted advantage of the drug is its low cost, since analogues, especially imported ones, are many times more expensive. Moreover, the gel is consumed slowly, so one tube is usually enough for a long time. The disadvantages include the fact that not every drugstore sells this drug - sometimes it can be really difficult to find.
Naturally, there are patients whom Ketoprofen did not help or caused adverse reactions. But it is worthwhile to understand that the body of each person is individual - you can never accurately predict what effect a particular drug will give.