Taipei Times
Date: Jan 28, 2017
By: Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

With people busy cleaning up ahead of the holiday, many might be suffering from joint and muscle pain. Using a pain relief patch might provide some welcome relief, but the Food and Drug Administration advises users not to leave it on for more than six hours.

The popular belief that “the longer you leave the pain relief patch on your skin, the better the effect” is a misconception, the agency said.

People should consult a doctor or a pharmacist before using pain relief patches, and read and follow the instructions printed on the package or package insert, it said.

The main ingredients of pain relief patches are methyl salicylate, capsaicin — an active component of chili peppers — mint or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and are absorbed through the skin, so keeping the patch on the skin too long can cause an overdose of the ingredients, or redness, swelling or itching, the agency said.    [FULL  STORY]