Salonpas
Encyclopedia
Salonpas is a brand name of a line of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relieving products
manufactured by Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical
Co., Inc. of Tosu City, Japan
. Introduced to the Japanese market in 1934, Salonpas is now sold in approximately fifty countries. The largest markets for the products are Japan and other Asian nations such as Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan
and other nations. According to Hisamitsu, approximately 20 billion Salonpas transdermal patches have been sold in the last 20 years.
Similar products are marketed by other companies, including Absorbine Jr. Pain Relief, Excedrin Cooling Pads, and Icy Hot Patches. Unlike patches containing fentanyl, topical analgesics containing menthol
, methyl salicylate
, camphor
, and capsaicin
and are available without a prescription.
In 2008, Salonpas Pain Relief Patch and Salonpas Arthritis Pain products were approved as the first (and sole) OTC topical analgesic
patch by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).
(NDA) covering Salonpas Pain Relief Patch and Salonpas Arthritis Pain, topical pain-relieving patches. These patches contain recognized analgesic
ingredients (menthol, methyl salicylate
) called counterirritant
s, which when applied to the skin, diminish pain signals under areas to which they are administered. To date, the Salonpas Pain Relief Patch and Salonpas Arthritis Pain patch are the only external analgesic patches subject to an approved NDA and sold into the over-the-counter health care market.
The effectiveness of the Salonpas Pain Relief Patch and Salonpas Arthritis Pain patch have been established in a clinical trial. The Salonpas patch was found to provide significantly greater pain relief compared to a placebo patch. The Salonpas Pain Relief Patch and Salonpas Arthritis Pain patches are manufactured using what Hisamitsu calls “comfort stretch” technology that provides effective pain relief while allowing patients to maintain daily activities and, an alternative for those who prefer to avoid the use of oral OTC pain-relief medication for minor aches and pains. The company differentiates its products from oral medications because the active ingredients in Salonpas patches are absorbed through the skin and go directly to the site of the pain.
Transdermal analgesic patch
A transdermal analgesic or pain relief patch is a medicated adhesive patch used to relieve minor to severe pain. There are two primary types of analgesic patches: patches containing counterirritants, which are used to treat mild to moderate pain, and patches containing fentanyl, a narcotic used to...
manufactured by Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical
Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical
, headquartered in Saga and Tokyo, Japan is a pharmaceutical company that develops and markets prescription and over-the-counter drug products, especially external pain relieving products such as the transdermal patch. Hisamitsu has specialized in transdermal drug delivery system technology since...
Co., Inc. of Tosu City, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Introduced to the Japanese market in 1934, Salonpas is now sold in approximately fifty countries. The largest markets for the products are Japan and other Asian nations such as Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and other nations. According to Hisamitsu, approximately 20 billion Salonpas transdermal patches have been sold in the last 20 years.
Similar products are marketed by other companies, including Absorbine Jr. Pain Relief, Excedrin Cooling Pads, and Icy Hot Patches. Unlike patches containing fentanyl, topical analgesics containing menthol
Menthol
Menthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is -menthol, which is assigned...
, methyl salicylate
Methyl salicylate
Methyl salicylate is a natural product of many species of plants. Some of the plants which produce it are called wintergreens, hence the common name.-Botanical background:...
, camphor
Camphor
Camphor is a waxy, white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor. It is a terpenoid with the chemical formula C10H16O. It is found in wood of the camphor laurel , a large evergreen tree found in Asia and also of Dryobalanops aromatica, a giant of the Bornean forests...
, and capsaicin
Capsaicin
Capsaicin 2CHCH=CH4CONHCH2C6H3-4--3- ) is the active component of chili peppers, which are plants belonging to the genus Capsicum. It is an irritant for mammals, including humans, and produces a sensation of burning in any tissue with which it comes into contact...
and are available without a prescription.
In 2008, Salonpas Pain Relief Patch and Salonpas Arthritis Pain products were approved as the first (and sole) OTC topical analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
patch by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
(FDA).
Products
The following is a summary of Salonpas brand products sold in the U.S.- Salonpas Pain Relief Patch - FDA approved OTC pain relief patch. Active ingredients: Methyl SalicylateMethyl salicylateMethyl salicylate is a natural product of many species of plants. Some of the plants which produce it are called wintergreens, hence the common name.-Botanical background:...
10%, MentholMentholMenthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is -menthol, which is assigned...
3%
- Salonpas Arthritis Pain - FDA approved OTC pain relief patch. Active ingredients: Methyl Salicylate 10%, Menthol 3%
- Salonpas - Versatile sized OTC pain relief patch. Active ingredients: Methyl Salicylate 6.3%, Menthol 5.7%, CamphorCamphorCamphor is a waxy, white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor. It is a terpenoid with the chemical formula C10H16O. It is found in wood of the camphor laurel , a large evergreen tree found in Asia and also of Dryobalanops aromatica, a giant of the Bornean forests...
1.2%
- Salonpas Hot - Large size capsaicin patch for application for back—OTC pain relief patch. Active ingredient: Capsicum extract 0.025% as Capsaicin
- Air Salonpas - OTC pain relief aerosol spray. Active ingredients: Methyl SalicylateMethyl salicylateMethyl salicylate is a natural product of many species of plants. Some of the plants which produce it are called wintergreens, hence the common name.-Botanical background:...
, 1.75% MentholMentholMenthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is -menthol, which is assigned...
3.2%, CamphorCamphorCamphor is a waxy, white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor. It is a terpenoid with the chemical formula C10H16O. It is found in wood of the camphor laurel , a large evergreen tree found in Asia and also of Dryobalanops aromatica, a giant of the Bornean forests...
3.0%
- Salonpas Gel - Menthol and Methyl Salicylate gel—OTC pain relief gel. Active ingredients: Methyl Salicylate 15%, Menthol 7%
- Salongsip Aqua-Patch - MentholMentholMenthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is -menthol, which is assigned...
jelly patch—Jelly type OTC pain relief patch. Active ingredient: Menthol 1.25%
- Salonpas Gel-Patch - Menthol and capsaicinCapsaicinCapsaicin 2CHCH=CH4CONHCH2C6H3-4--3- ) is the active component of chili peppers, which are plants belonging to the genus Capsicum. It is an irritant for mammals, including humans, and produces a sensation of burning in any tissue with which it comes into contact...
jelly patch—Active ingredients: Capsicum extracts 0.025% as Capsicum, MentholMentholMenthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is -menthol, which is assigned...
1.25%.
FDA approval
In February 2008, the FDA approved a New Drug ApplicationNew drug application
The New Drug Application is the vehicle in the United States through which drug sponsors formally propose that the Food and Drug Administration approve a new pharmaceutical for sale and marketing...
(NDA) covering Salonpas Pain Relief Patch and Salonpas Arthritis Pain, topical pain-relieving patches. These patches contain recognized analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
ingredients (menthol, methyl salicylate
Methyl salicylate
Methyl salicylate is a natural product of many species of plants. Some of the plants which produce it are called wintergreens, hence the common name.-Botanical background:...
) called counterirritant
Counterirritant
A counterirritant is a substance which creates inflammation in one location with the goal of lessening the inflammation in another location. They can be used as antipruritics. This strategy falls into the more general category of counterstimulation....
s, which when applied to the skin, diminish pain signals under areas to which they are administered. To date, the Salonpas Pain Relief Patch and Salonpas Arthritis Pain patch are the only external analgesic patches subject to an approved NDA and sold into the over-the-counter health care market.
The effectiveness of the Salonpas Pain Relief Patch and Salonpas Arthritis Pain patch have been established in a clinical trial. The Salonpas patch was found to provide significantly greater pain relief compared to a placebo patch. The Salonpas Pain Relief Patch and Salonpas Arthritis Pain patches are manufactured using what Hisamitsu calls “comfort stretch” technology that provides effective pain relief while allowing patients to maintain daily activities and, an alternative for those who prefer to avoid the use of oral OTC pain-relief medication for minor aches and pains. The company differentiates its products from oral medications because the active ingredients in Salonpas patches are absorbed through the skin and go directly to the site of the pain.
External links
- Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. official website
- Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. official website