OTC Pain

The use of homeopathic medicines as part of a self-care solution to treat such ailments as the common cold or back pain is becoming more and more commonplace through conventional channels. While a Harvard survey on the use of homeopathy published earlier this year in the American Journal of Public Health revealed that only 2.1% of U.S. adults have used homeopathy in the past 12 months, conventional outlets including Walmart, CVS Health and Rite Aid command 86.5% of the homeopathic dollar share, according to SPINSscan (powered by IRI).

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. - A national survey conducted by the U.S. Pain Foundation, with support from McNeil Consumer Healthcare, has found that while nearly all consumers (97%) say they feel confident when choosing which over-the-counter pain reliever to take, many disregard important safety factors that medical professionals say are critical to selecting which OTC pain reliever is most appropriate for their health profile.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - Omron recently launched its Omron Heat Pain Pro, the only device on the market that combines heat with TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) technology to relieve acute muscle and joint pain.

AKRON, Ohio – Performance Health recently announced the availability of Biofreeze at consumer retail starting in the fall of 2016.

For 25 years, in concert with healthcare professionals, Biofreeze Pain Reliever has been helping people reduce their pain. Now the brand will also reach consumers who purchase pain relief products at retail, including grocery, drug and mass merchandise stores, expanding the reach of the pain relief that Biofreeze and its healthcare professional partners provide.

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. - Life Wear Technologies recently announced the launch of ThermalMAX long lasting heat packs.

ThermalMAX heat packs deliver customers optimal heat therapy for over 2 hours, which will deliver a new level of long lasting, wearable therapy to consumers in need of deep heat therapy.

BOSTON - Quest Products announced Monday the launch of CopperFixx, a new pain relief cream and patch that utilizes copper as its primary active ingredient. Unlike copper bracelets or compression sleeves, CopperFixx is applied directly at the site of the pain.

"Copper has always been known to help relieve the aches and pains of certain afflictions, as well as everyday activities," stated Don Ryan, president and CEO of Quest Products. "Until now, no one had figured out how to produce it in a highly concentrated and consumer-friendly form."

Sales of OTC medicines continue on a steady pace with dollar volumes up half a billion dollars over the first half of 2016, according to data culled from IRI. Drug Store News earlier this year reported $44 billion in OTC sales for calendar 2015, citing IRI figures.