Vol. 6 No. 10 (2026): October
Health Technology Reviews

Topical Drugs for Pain Management

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Published October 7, 2026

Key Messages

  • Topical diclofenac appears to be an effective, well-tolerated option for osteoarthritis and acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain, with fewer stomach side effects than oral diclofenac.
  • For topical ketamine, baclofen, clonidine, gabapentin, ketoprofen, and nifedipine, the evidence is generally limited, mixed, or low quality. Although some of these drugs may show benefits for pain associated with specific conditions, such as nifedipine for anal fissures or pressure ulcers and diclofenac for cancer pain and for prevention of capecitabine-associated hand-foot syndrome, more high-quality research is needed before they can be routinely recommended.