It is one of the most widely used pain relievers. Who else who least has this anti-inflammatory at home that helps relieve everything from headaches to the most desperate hangover. Its best-known form is in the form of a pill, although there are also gels and now also patches.
The ibuprofen patch, which has not yet gone on sale in our country, has been created by researchers from the University of Warwick (United Kingdom), in collaboration with the company Medherant, and represents a first step to develop new painkillers with this format.
Pain patches are currently on the market, however they do not have the efficacy of the one created by the Warwick scientists. As they affirm, the current commercial patches do not release any medicinehave a very limited analgesic power as they relieve pain by heating.
“Many commercial patches do not contain pain relieving agents, they simply soothe through a warming effect. Our technology, however, contains effective doses of active ingredients, in this case. We can also improve the drug loading and stickiness of the patches. , which contain other active ingredients to improve patient comfort and outcome,” explains David Haddleton, a chemist and one of the project leaders.
The patch is made up of a series of polymers that absorb the drug and release it steadily through the skin for approximately 12 hours.
It must be applied directly to the area where we feel the pain, thus achieving greater effectiveness. Contains a quantity of ibuprofen up to 30% of its weight or volume and between 5-10 times greater than that of other medical patches and gels.
With this, the side effects that ibuprofen can have if it is taken continuously orally are avoided. “These patches provide a better experience for patients, improve safety and offer greater efficacy, which will lead to greater economic benefits for the healthcare system,” comments Nigel Davis, CEO of Medherant.
Warwick researchers analyze the ibuprofen patch. Photo: warwick.ac.uk
anti aging drug
But , which appears on the World Health Organization (WHO) List of Essential Medicines, is not only effective against pain. Other research suggests that it is also a powerful ally against aging.
A study developed at the University of Texas (USA) has come to the conclusion that the drug extends the life of flies, worms and even yeast. These organisms lived longer and were healthier, as determined by these experts, led by Professor Michael Polymenis.
The researchers calculate that a specific therapy based on ibuprofen could extend the life of humans by up to 12 years. The experts also do not rule out that other drugs similar to this analgesic are also effective against aging, but more experiments will be needed to prove it.