What is the most effective Pain Relief Patch?

Life with constant pain is a nightmare. It negatively affects all aspects of our lives and makes it very difficult to get by. While most people are shifting to natural alternatives like gummies for sleep and pain, not everyone finds success with them. 

That’s why pain relief patches are becoming quite popular lately. They are easy to apply and can provide effective targeted relief in specific areas where you are hurting. By sticking to your skin, these patches deliver strong pain-numbing medication through the pores and work their charm. 

However, choosing the right pain relief patch can be a tedious task, as there are simply too many options on the market. You can even buy pain-specific patches, for example, one for nerve pain and another for muscle spasms. 

This article will cover all the basic information about pain relief patches that can help you make the right purchasing decision. 

What are pain relief patches? How do they work? 

A pain relief patch is a medical instrument that is made with an adhesive material. It sticks to your skin to deliver the medicine directly through pores for localized pain relief. These patches are transdermal and are made of strong active ingredients like capsaicin, menthol, lidocaine, or sometimes prescription medications like fentanyl and buprenorphine. 

The transdermal drug delivery method is proven to be quite effective. The medicine first penetrates the skin’s outer layer and then enters the bloodstream or affects specific nerve receptors in the affected areas. 

Some brands also sell CBD pain relief patches, and you don’t need a prescription for them. Full-spectrum CBD transdermal patches are most effective, and the presence of trace THC levels in them leads to potent and long-lasting relief. 

Plus, it’s more convenient than creams and balms; just stick it and forget it. Patches are effective because the skin acts as a control barrier, which leads to steady, continuous medication release over several hours. 

Different Types of Pain Relief Patches: Which Is Most Effective?

Here are some different types of pain relief patches that you can consider based on your use case.

1. Lidocaine Patches 

The lidocaine patch has many types of medicines in it that block pain signaling pathways. They are available through prescription and over-the-counter, depending on the severity of the pain. In over-the-counter options, brands like Aspercreme and Lidocaine lead the market with the best consumer score. 

Whereas in pre-croton, Lidoderm is favored by most doctors. These patches work like a local anesthetic, and you can directly put them on your neck, legs, arms, shoulder, or wherever you feel the pain. 

Lidocaine patches are highly recommended to control nerve pain from shingles, which often lasts for months to years. Lidocaine patches usually exhibit relief in 30 minutes after application, and they may last for between 8 and 12 hours.

2. Capsaicin Patches

“Capsaicin”, the main ingredient in these patches, is the same compound that makes chili peppers hot. The best over-the-counter offerings include Aspercreme Warming and Salonpas Pain Relieving Hot Patch. 

These are great for mild arthritis pain, muscle sprain pain, and back pain. There are also prescription options, but they are only given for severe nerve pain in patients caused by conditions like diabetic neuropathy. Capsaicin mainly works to reduce activity in nerve cells that are causing pain. 

These patches may cause a burning or stinging sensation initially, but they fade away in a few minutes. Capsaicin patches can be regularly used for a long time, and side effects are next to nothing. 

3. Diclofenac Epolamine Patch

Diclofenac epolamine, mainly sold by the brand Flector, is a prescription pain relief patch full of anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. It’s an NSAID, which reduces the inflammation and pain directly in the applied area. 

Just make sure that the skin has no cuts or infections during application. Some studies show that these patches are as effective as swallowing diclofenac pills, but the added benefit is that there’s no risk of stomach issues. 

But yeah, you’ll need a prescription for it, as these medications are quite strong and should not be used without supervision. 

4. Fentanyl Patches

Fentanyl patches are very strong, and since their main ingredient is opioids, a prescription is a must. It’s given in the treatment of severe chronic pain that other medicines can’t control. 

Fentanyl patches are only given to patients who already have strong opioid tolerance and can manage their strong sedating effects. These are quite popular for the cancer treatment process, especially to control nausea, dizziness, and pain from chemotherapy. 

Some studies show that fentanyl patches work as well as oral morphine doses and cause less severe side effects like nausea and vomiting. A single patch can provide relief for up to 72 hours. Careful monitoring is required because it can easily be abused. 

5. CBD Patches

The last and probably the best option for most people is CBD patches. They have “cannabidiol” as the main active ingredient. It’s a natural compound found in cannabis sativa plants. CBD has strong analgesic, anxiolytic, and anti-inflammatory properties. 

From post-gym muscle soreness to chronic pain caused by arthritis, CBD patches can provide long-lasting relief from all such issues. Plus, as compared to the above-discussed option, it does not contain any synthetic medicines. 

Hence, it’s the most natural and health-friendly option. Though the research is a bit limited, there are plenty of anecdotal reports from people who found long-lasting relief after adding CBD patches to their routine. 

Conclusion: Most Effective Pain Relief Patch 

Okay, so there’s no one perfect and most effective pain relief patch. The best patch for a person will depend on their specific use case. If the pain is too severe, then you may have to go with prescription patches like diclofenac and fentanyl. 

Otherwise, you can stick to over-the-counter options like capsaicin patches, lidocaine patches, and CBD patches. Use patches carefully in conjunction with other pain relief treatments so that there’s no dependency on one source. 

You may have to use patches for a long time, even months, for long-lasting relief. Do consult with your doctor first if the pain is too strong. In the case of CBD, go with proven and well-tested CBD brands like Colorado Botanicals only.