Menthol is a medication that's applied to the skin to help relieve minor aches and pains. It's available over the counter (OTC) as brand-name and lower-cost generic options. Menthol comes in many different forms including patches, gel, cream, spray, and topical liquid. This medication doesn't cause many side effects, but it might not work as well as some other pain relief formulations that contain multiple ingredients.
Minor aches and pains in muscles and joints related to:
Arthritis
Backache
Strains
Sprains
Bruises
Cramps
Bursitis (inflamed bursa)
Tendonitis (inflamed tendon)
Menthol is a topical analgesic. It relieves pain when applied to the skin. Menthol is a naturally-occurring chemical that comes from the peppermint plant. When it's applied to the skin, it acts as a counterirritant. This means that it turns on pain sensors in the skin, which then makes them less sensitive to other pain signals.
Source: DailyMed
Available OTC as a lower-cost generic
Comes in many different formulations
Can be applied directly to the painful area
Generally well tolerated with few side effects
Patches can be worn for up to 8 hours.
Can't apply to irritated or damaged skin
Shouldn't be used for more than 7 days at a time
Can cause irritation if it makes contact with the eyes
Shouldn't be used with other topical skin products
Patches won't stick well to damp or wet skin.
Clean and dry the affected area completely before applying menthol. Wash your hands with cool water once you've finished applying the medication. This will help avoid irritating your eyes or other sensitive areas if it comes into contact with menthol.
Don't use menthol at the same time as other topical products. It's not known if using them at the same time can affect how well the medication works or how safe it is for you.
Don't cover menthol with a tight bandage. Also don't apply a heating pad or other heating device to an area with the medication on it. This can raise your risk for getting skin irritation or burning from the patch.
If your condition worsens, your symptoms last more than 7 days, they go away and come back again within a few days, or if you develop excessive skin irritation or burning, stop using menthol and contact your provider.
Some menthol gels can be used with ice packs, if needed. You can also apply a wet or dry bandage on an area that's treated with the gel, but make sure to wrap it loosely to avoid side effects. Read the instructions on the package to see if this is possible with the product you're using.
For menthol patches:
To put on a patch, peel off part of the backing to expose the sticky side of the patch. Apply this sticky part onto your skin. Then remove the rest of the backing while pressing the patch to your skin. This technique helps to avoid getting the medication on your hands.
If you need to apply a menthol patch to a hairy area of the body, you can trim the excess hair so the patch will stick better.
To remove, make sure the patch is dry before slowly peeling it off. This will help avoid skin irritation.
Throw menthol patches away after a single use. The best way to throw a medicated patch away is to fold it in half (sticky sides together) and then place it in a lidded trash can. This will keep someone from accidentally touching the medicated side of the patch and getting it on their skin.
Menthol can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Covering the application area tightly | Applying heat to the application area
Although rare, menthol can cause serious skin burns. If this happens, it usually occurs within 24 hours of the first use. Sometimes they can be so severe that the event requires hospitalization. Stop using menthol if you experience pain, blistering, or swelling at the site of application and get medical help right away.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
5 patches of 5% | 6 cartons | $19.61 | $3.27 |
Menthol is available in different strengths and formulations, and it can be used for different conditions. Make sure you follow the instructions on the package for the product you're using. Some examples include:
Menthol 5% patch
Adults and children 12 years or older: Apply one patch to the affected area no more than 4 times daily. Leave the patch on for up to 8 hours.
Children under 12 years old: Ask your child's provider.
Adults and children 2 years or older: Apply to the affected area up to 3 to 4 times daily.
Children under 2 years old: Ask your child's provider.
Menthol 10.5% spray
Adults and children 12 years or older: Spray onto the affected area up to 3 to 4 times daily.
Children under 12 years old: Ask your child's provider.
Minor aches and pains in muscles and joints related to:
Arthritis
Backache
Strains
Sprains
Bruises
Cramps
Bursitis (inflamed bursa)
Tendonitis (inflamed tendon)
Minor burns
Sunburn
Minor cuts
Scrapes
Insect bites
Skin irritations and rashes from poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac
Minor muscle or joint pains (e.g., arthritis, backaches, bruises, strains, sprains)
Simple backache
Strains
Sprains
Bruises
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