Efficacy of epicutaneous Diractin® (Ketoprofen in Transfersome®) for the Treatment of Pain Related to Eccentric Muscle Contractions

Objective: To investigate the effect of epicutaneously applied Diractin® (ketoprofen in Transfersome® gel) on pain induced by eccentric muscle contractions. Methods: Three pilot studies which were subsequently pooled for a meta-analysis compared the efficacy of a single application of 25mg ketoprofen in Diractin® to 25mg oral ketoprofen and placebo for the treatment of pain induced by 50 eccentric contractions of the elbow flexor muscles. In addition, the effect of multiple usage of up to 100mg ketoprofen in Diractin® b.i.d. over 7 days on pain induced by walking down stairs with a total altitude of 200 meters w…