A Topical Adhesive Containing Anesthetic and Heating Components to Reduce Injection Pain with Subcutaneous Multiple Sclerosis Medications: A Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT: Background:Injection pain and fear of pain are common with subcutaneous medications for treating multiple sclerosis (MS). Synera is a peel-and-stick topical adhesive (S-TA) with a novel heating component to enhance the delivery of an anesthetic mixture of lidocaine and tetracaine. We studied the effect of S-TA on pain and other aspects of comfort after subcutaneous MS drug injection. Methods:Thirty participants with MS having injection reactions to subcutaneous interferon beta (IFN?) or glatiramer acetate (GA) were enrolled in an open-label prospective study. We captured six to seven injections at baseline and with 60- and 30-minute S-TA application times. The primary outcome was immediate pain on injection. Secondary outcomes included 12- and 24-hour pain ratings, 24-hour local injection-site reaction scale scores, 24-hour tenderness, and fear of injection (FOI). Results:Twenty-nine participants completed the study (interferon beta = 4, GA = 25, mean age = 51 years, females = 86%). There were significant reductions in injection pain, pain at 12 and 24 hours, tenderness at 24 hours, local injection-site reaction scale scores, and FOI for the 30- and 60-minute applications of S-TA (all P < .01). Results were similar in the GA subgroup. Adverse events included muscle spasm and lightheadedness (n = 1) and mild dermatitis (n = 1). Conclusions:These results suggest that S-TA applied 30 or 60 minutes before MS drug injection may reduce pain, tenderness, and FOI. Randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of ST-A.

SUBMITTER: Brown TR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7313407 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature