Flexiseq™- a new innovative joint pain treatment for Osteoarthritis sufferers

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and a leading cause of joint pain. In recent weeks I have been inundated with queries on the new drug-free joint pain gel for arthritis. The product is called Flexiseq™ and it has got a lot of attention due to comments from the likes of Arthritis Ireland and top rheumatologists. Hence in this week’s health blog I explain what all the fuss is about and how this product works.

 Flexiseq is an innovative treatment, researched and developed in Germany, for the management of pain and joint stiffness in patients with osteoarthritis. Flexiseq™ is a gel containing nanostructures called Sequessome™ vesicles, which are able to cross the skin and target sites of pain when rubbed in. Once inside the joint, Sequessome vesicles accumulate on the damaged cartilage forming a lubricating layer. Research shows is benefits in relieving pain with comparable efficacy to celecoxib, a leading prescription drug used for treating osteoarthritis pain. Daily application in the morning and evening is enough to give real improvement in joint pain in as little as two days.

Flexiseq™ is registered as a medical device; thus Flexiseq™ does not contain any pharmaceutically active ingredients meaning it doesn't contain any drugs that might interact with medication you may be taking for pain or any other ailment.

John Church, CEO of Arthritis Ireland said “We welcome any new innovative approach to making life easier for the 450,000 people living with osteoarthritis in Ireland.” Professor Geraldine McCarthy from Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, in Dublin said “I have been aware of Flexiseq™ since its launch in Germany last year and welcome its arrival in Ireland, as we have a real need for new treatments for the symptoms of osteoarthritis.” The drug-free gel is supported by a wealth of clinical data including a paper recently published in the influential British medical journal Rheumatology which indicated that Flexiseq™ could be used safely in older patients and patients with heart problems without risks associated with traditional prescription anti-inflammatory drugs.

 Patients with high risk medical problems

The targeted, physical mode of action of Flexiseq™ crucially means there are no drug-to-drug interactions with Flexiseq™ as it is not itself a drug and, as a result, it can be used by patients who may be taking a variety of medications for other diseases and is an option for patients considered ‘at risk’ from the more common side effects associated with prescription only anti-inflammatory painkillers, for example, those with such conditions as high blood pressure, gastric disorders or asthma.

As Flexiseq™ is an alternative treatment; it should not replace conventional treatments prescribed by your doctor. It can complement other arthritis treatments. Always consult your doctor. I will discuss osteoarthritis in more detail in my health blog soon.

This article is shortened for my health blog. More detailed information and leaflets is available in Whelehans

Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie