Can oral anti-inflammatory drugs be used externally?

Generally, anti-inflammatory drugs are classified into different categories. In addition to anti-inflammatory drugs for external use on wounds, there are also oral ones. Topical products are generally used directly on the wound to help prevent bacteria from directly infecting the wound. Oral anti-inflammatory drugs are designed to help our bodies overcome infections in internal organs. So can the anti-inflammatory drugs that we usually take orally be used externally directly? Can this really have the same effect?

Anti-inflammatory drugs generally refer to oral anti-inflammatory drugs, and it is best not to apply them directly to the wound. The standards for oral medications and medications used on wounds are different. Some excipients that facilitate drug absorption are added to oral medications, which are not suitable for application on wounds. In addition, applying oral anti-inflammatory drugs on wounds will cause the drugs to be directly absorbed into the blood, which may lead to drug resistance and adverse reactions. Therefore, it is best not to apply oral anti-inflammatory drugs directly to wounds.

Disadvantages of applying oral anti-inflammatory drugs directly to wounds

1. The excipients added to oral anti-inflammatory drugs that may affect wound healing are to help the drugs be absorbed easily when taken orally. However, the wound does not have the acidic environment of the stomach, which may have an adverse effect on wound healing and lead to unsatisfactory wound healing.

2. Applying oral anti-inflammatory drugs to wounds may lead to drug resistance, which allows the anti-inflammatory drugs to enter the blood directly without going through the normal process when taken orally. This may cause an increase in blood drug concentration and thus lead to drug resistance.

3. Possible adverse reactions The occurrence of adverse reactions is often related to blood drug concentration. The oral dosage is a safe dose determined after clinical safety trials, but applying it on a wound may cause an increase in local blood drug concentration and may lead to side effects.

4. Anti-inflammatory drugs are for external use. Common anti-inflammatory drugs include disinfectants and antiseptics, antibacterial drugs, antifungal drugs, antiviral drugs, etc.