psd-502 and Multiple-Sclerosis--Relapsing-Remitting

Fear of pain from injections may affect adherence to needed drug therapy. A single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of EMLA cream in reducing the fear and pain associated with intramuscular (IM) injection during administration of interferon beta-1a to patients with multiple sclerosis. Patients rated fear of injection on a visual analog scale before the injection and rated injection pain following the injection. With the application of EMLA cream, the mean pain-of-injection score was found to be significantly lower than the mean fear-of-injection score. The 18 patients who completed the study experienced a statistically significant decrease in both scores. This study suggests that the use of EMLA cream may reduce the pain and fear associated with IM injections.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Administration, Cutaneous; Adolescent; Adult; Anesthetics, Local; Attitude to Health; Clinical Nursing Research; Cross-Over Studies; Fear; Female; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Interferon beta-1a; Interferon-beta; Lidocaine; Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting; Ointments; Pain; Pain Measurement; Pilot Projects; Prilocaine; Single-Blind Method; Treatment Outcome