Powergel! (OTC Medicines in general)

Member Name: lily7star

Product:	OTC Medicines in general
Date:	17/09/00 (79 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Relieves inflammation without the horrible side effects you can get with oral anti-inflammatories

Disadvantages: like most medicines, it's not suitable for everyone

Sounds like something you'd use to clean the sink, but no, Powergel is a topical application anti-inflammatory gel used to relieve the pain of soft tissue injuries and acute strains and sprains.
For people like me who can't take anti-inflammatory tablets because they have a sensitive stomach, this gel is an absolute godsend.
I've suffered from neck pain for years, but find now that applying this stuff helps enormously. It was recommended to me by my GP when I had back pain earlier in the year, and I used it regularly (although you're advised never to use it for more than 10 days in a row) while I had severe pain from a prolapsed disc. Obviously it didn't relieve the pain anywhere near entirely, but I have no doubt that it helped ease it, and helped keep the pain more bearable without the use of extremely strong painkillers.
Powergel's main active ingredient is ketoprofen, and although it is theoretically possible to get the same horrible side effects as you can get taking oral anti-inflammatories, my GP says she's never heard of it happening in practice and it certainly had no side effects for me.
There are contraindications for use, as with most medicines, so check these before buying/trying it. My mother has severe neck pain from arthritis for example, but is unable to use this because she is also on blood-thinning medication. It's also unsuitable if you suffer from eczema or asthma, and needs your GP's approval in cases where you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
In addition to ketoprofen, powergel contains neroli and lavender oils.....it's pleasant to apply, and doesn't smell as overpowering as a lot of muscle rubs and liniments.
I definitely recommend it for muscle pain (although if there's inflammation there, this stuff will feel like it's been in a freezer when you first apply it!)
You can buy it over the counter but it's slightly cheaper on prescription, and it's been wor
th every penny.

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