NSAIDs are medications that provide relief from pain by reducing its cause – the inflammation. It is widely used to relieve minor aches and pains and help manage arthritis, for some. NSAIDs range from the common aspirin and ibuprofen to traditional NSAIDs like piroxicam, ketoprofen to the new-aged COX-2 inhibitors.
"Piroxicam is one of the more effective and potent drugs among the anti-inflammatory drugs. However, its potency is equally linked to the severity of its side effects," explains Dr. Sandra Tankeh-Torres, immediate past president of the Philippine Rheumatologists Association.
This led to further studies seeking to enable and utilize the drug’s potency while at the same time, reducing its side effects.
SK Pharma, one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in Korea, was able to find a way to deliver piroxicam in the safest way possible through the innovation of a new drug delivery system.
Piroxicam (Macroxam) is presented in a unique transdermal direct drug delivery system where the drug is directly absorbed through the skin and to the affected area. It translates to safer delivery of the anti-inflammatory drug while maintaining its efficacy.
The world’s first NSAID in a transdermal patch, Piroxicam (Macroxam) possesses a Drug Penetration Enhancer that ensures that the potent anti-inflammatory drug will be delivered into the actual area of inflammation. Through this exceptional ability, there is considerably less risk that the anti-inflammatory drug will be absorbed in the blood stream.
A 1998 study presented by Korean researchers led by Wong H. Jun of the Samsung Biomedical Research Institute aimed to compare the disposition of topical piroxicam vs oral piroxicam at steady state. The study was comprised of 20 patients aged 54 to 77 with osteoarthritis. It also measured the area where inflammation is present. The results showed that there is an equal amount of absorption of piroxicam in the affected area for oral and topical administration of piroxicam.
"The transdermal direct drug delivery system makes the product special. Since it permits piroxicam to be delivered deep into the actual area of inflammation, this lessens its absorption in the blood stream significantly," added Torres.
Also, because of its controlled release mechanism, its potent anti-inflammatory drug is delivered continuously for two to three days. It works directly through the skin and slowly releases piroxicam to the affected area. To add to that, this piroxicam patch has a special adhesive formulation that allows the underlying skin to "breathe."
Piroxicam (Macroxam) is effective for the relief of pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, tenosynovitis, septic arthritis, some post-surgical procedures, trauma and other conditions where pain and inflammation are present.
Macroxam, the Piroxicam in a patch, is locally marketed by Macropharma Corporation and distributed by Metro Drug, Inc. It is available in Mercury Drug and other drugstores nationwide.
