Sticky heat patches - why does the box tell me to speak to a pharmacist before purchasing if I have RA?

[12Chrissy34]

Just curious!

Update: they're non-medicated 🤔 maybe to encourage a discussion about appropriate pain management?

[helixhelix]

Maybe to check you're not also usimg things that don't go with them, loke amti-inflammatory creams? Let us know if you find out!

[nomoreheels]

I would think it's to check there are no contraindications with any of your meds Chrissy. If they're something like the Voltarol ones my guess is it'll be specifically NSAIDs as the main ingredient is diclofenac, an NSAID. If it's another brand check for the main ingredient, or as it says ask the Pharmacist, they'll check that they don't interfere with any of your meds.

[VeronicaF in reply to nomoreheels]

what does that mean in laymans terms, can you not use voltarol with meds? I use that my meds not working yet 3 and half weeks almost :O)

[nomoreheels in reply to VeronicaF]

I'm not sure how else I can say it really Veronica. Voltarol heat patches contain dicofenac which is an NSAID, if you take an NSAID or if any other of your meds could interact or are not recommend for use with the main ingredient (diclofenac in the case of Voltarol heat patches) then you need to ask the advice of a Pharmacist before buying or using them, or your Rheumy, GP or nurse.

Hope this helps?

[VeronicaF in reply to nomoreheels]

so Voltarol cream is okay with H med? I know you can't take anymore ibro with voltarol cream, I know that, but just checking with RA meds the H drug

[12Chrissy34 in reply to VeronicaF]

Is the h drug hydroxychloroquine?

[nomoreheels in reply to 12Chrissy34]

Yes.

[nomoreheels in reply to VeronicaF]

With the meds such as we take anything you're considering adding like over the counter meds or adhesive pain/heat/cold patches or any other otc you should always check with the Pharmacist if they're going to interact with any you personally take. It's common sense otherwise we could have a bad reaction & it's nobody's but our fault.

I can't think of anything that's contraindicates HCQ & medical grade or percentage Voltarol gel but I'm not a Pharmacist so do check first. Remember though any other meds you take other than HCQ count too! I always keep a list of all my meds & their doses both on my iPad @ listed in the back of my drug monitoring book for such occasions.

[BonnieT]

I think because there’s medication in them.

[nomoreheels]

That's for the Doctor or Pharmacist to answer as it clearly states under Precautions to speak to a doctor or pharmacist before using the product if you have any of the following conditions, RA being one of the conditions. Or if you're of a mind ask GlaxoSmithKline.

[Leics]

i Never use voltarol or diclofenac because it messed with my eyesight. Same thing with ibuprofen because that’s derived from aspirin and I have a bad sensitivity to that too. Caution should always be taken when using these things but if your on hydroxy I don’t know if there would be a reaction. Best to check it with pharmacy one that knows about RA drugs don’t just use dr google lol.

[Bessieboo1]

As these patches don’t have medication in them as indicated on the packet, I suspect it is due to the fact many of us have circulation problems/nerve damage which would mean you may not realise how hot the patch has got and they just want to make sure that you don’t burn yourself😬. Bessieboo xxx

[12Chrissy34]

In related news, I've been around the houses today trying to get hold of naproxen

[VeronicaF]

well I went to get Voltarol cream yesterday 12 hour one, got loaded with questions from the pharmacist, who then told me I shouldn't be still using it after 14 days and contact rheumy.

I stopped using it yesterday.

my knees were on fire with pain and pain everywhere.

I rang the 48 hour this morning,hey rang me back and said can you see a gp for help as there was no rheumy there

I said no gps no help

so told them what had been said about the cream, she went and rang a rheumy for advice, they came back ringing me, saying its fine to carry on using it.

I am at the loaded stage on the meds and its anything and everything to get me through it until 2 more months, where hopfully the med will start to kick in

[GranAmie in reply to VeronicaF]

hi V.. if joints 'on fire' u could try biofreeze it comes as gel or roll on and is herbal, n really helps. My chiropractor daughter gave it 2me so i cd avoid feldene or other stuff containing ibuprofen etc. saw it in chemist the other day too. so u can buy it otc [over the counter]. x