A Topical Adhesive Containing Anesthetic and Heating Components to Reduce Injection Pain with Subcutaneous Multiple...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Dermatology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Subcutaneous injections for multiple sclerosis (MS) commonly cause pain and fear.
• Synera, a novel topical adhesive with a heating component, delivers lidocaine and tetracaine to reduce injection discomfort.
• This study investigated the efficacy of Synera (S-TA) in mitigating pain and improving comfort during MS drug administration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of S-TA on immediate and delayed pain following subcutaneous MS drug injections.
• To assess the effect of S-TA on injection site reactions, tenderness, and fear of injection (FOI).
• To determine optimal application times for S-TA to maximize patient comfort.

Main Methods:

• An open-label prospective study involving 30 participants with MS experiencing injection site reactions.
• Participants received subcutaneous interferon beta (IFNβ) or glatiramer acetate (GA) with S-TA applied 30 and 60 minutes prior to injection.
• Pain, tenderness, local reactions, and FOI were measured at various time points post-injection.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in immediate injection pain, 12- and 24-hour pain, 24-hour tenderness, and injection site reaction scores were observed with S-TA application (P < .01).
• Fear of injection (FOI) was also significantly reduced.
• Results were consistent across glatiramer acetate (GA) treated patients; adverse events were mild and infrequent.

Conclusions:

• S-TA applied 30 or 60 minutes before subcutaneous MS drug injection effectively reduces pain, tenderness, and fear of injection.
• The findings suggest S-TA as a promising intervention for improving patient comfort during MS therapy.
• Further randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the efficacy of S-TA.