'flexiseq' A Latter Day Snake Oil?

[sandyRoe]

It's supposed to help with arthritic conditions. If it did wouldn't doctors be prescribing it?

[Sqad]

Well, I for one, have never heard of it.

I don't think that it is available on the NHS, so I would presume that it why Drs do not prescribe it.

It sounds good.

[Daffy6543]

///Is Flexiseq available on prescription?
No. Flexiseq is classed as a medical device and is not included in the relevant section of the Drug Tariff. Therefore cannot be prescribed on NHS prescriptions.///

http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/info/flexiseq?gclid=CNaZtq_LxcICFSMFwwodAGMAKw

[sandyRoe]

Good, Sqad, too good to be true?

[Sqad]

Well, the thought of little fat globules, a medical WD 40, sneaking through the skin into the joint cavity..........turns me on!

[knittynora]

It's expensive at about £18 a tube (about the size of toothpaste). Mum's tried it and it seems to work on her bad knees but I've read somewhere that it doesn't work for everyone.

[sandyRoe]

I'll get a couple of tubes as a Christmas stocking filler. The placebo effect might kick in and offer some imaginary relief.

[knittynora]

Mum got hers from Sainsbury's pharmacy at £18. Other places it's 50p a tube more. I think Lloyd's pharmacy online do discount for more than one tube but not sure how that works out when you take postage into account. It's not a quick fix. You need to use it for a couple of weeks at least before it begins to take effect. Hope you find that it works for you.

[jno]

this report basically says "We don't know, not enough data".

http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/shop/products/health/~/link.aspx?_id=1BFE46E3EA824E94A1FF3742C6B3059E&_z=z

[solvitquick]

I've tried it more out of curiosity than hope. It seemed to work on my knee but not my hip.
I was curious because other arthritic-sufferers were apparently buying it regularly although it did not contain any analgeic or local anasthetic drugs.
As a retired biochemist I was just curious about a product that "contained no drugs". I assumed a placebo effect which really works for some by the way.
Interestingly I found it contains phosphatidylcholine which is a component of almost every one of our cell membranes (notably the outer coating).
Just maybe this and it's glycerol help the collagen's cushioning effect versus stress on the joint.
It's cost is due to the fact that it's liposome constitution is expenive to manufacture.
I could not recommend it but would not dismiss it as "snake oil" as it does have some clinical studies which are positive.
Even a placebo or whatever is better than excessive use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which have a history of causing stomach bleeding but probably necessary for those in intense pain.
SIQ.

[sandyRoe]

It for use by a woman who declined the opportunity of a hip replacement operation. Even taking cocodomal 30-500 she's in considerable pain and needs a walking frame to get around.
I'll try it.

[solvitquick]

Dear sandyRoe,
I repeat, I have not recommended Flexiseq. And I have no personal interest in promoting it nor are my qualifications medical.
I'm not sure if we are discussing you or a friend/relative.
If for another, try the placebo-effect at least. Lie for her sake, and tell her it's a brilliant new invention which it is not. on present evidence. But that may have a good psychological effect.
If a mixture of codeine and paracetamol doesn't work, I am not optimisic of the prognosis. But the placebo effect is very real and used by G.P.'s at times. I say this because the only evidence for Flexiseg favours knee-pain above placebo but no arthritic hip studies have been carried out.
I am not a fan of codeine. I don't think it is as powerful an analgesic as many believe. When I had to take the mix, I found the codeine just added to my misery by causing constipation (a well established effect) so I gave it up and simply bought paracetamol. My G.P. was contented with this.
Best Wishes sandy - if it delivers an improvement then it will be most interesting.
SIQ.

[ganesh]

It isn't prescribed 'yet' as it is still new but I am hoping one day it will be. I have osteo in my thumb joints and even had the steroid injection which did nothing. Flexiseq works in a different way, basically lubricating the joint and therefore easing the joint. It is not a painkiller but is working on the problem itself. You need to use it for a couple of weeks on a daily basis as it builds up and I must say the pain has eased so much for me that I hardly even think about it sometimes. I agree it is very expensive and if you have to use it on large joints like knees then it would be expensive. I do hope it works for enough people that it will soon be on prescription, or at least they can make it in bigger better value tubes.

[solvitquick]

Dear gansesh,
Glad to hear you have apparently found a treatment for your thumb-joints.
I never mentioned it earlier but it did stop me losing feeling in some fingers. I just rubbed it on my hands after application to my knee and hip without using it as an aid to occasional arthritic hand problems which I do have. No I don't have Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, on-line "experts".
I doubt if it will be on prescription because its medical credentials are far from established and as it contains no "precription-only-medicines" (POMs). For similar reasons it will probably remain pharmacy-only.
As earlier, I only tried it as a curious scientist but I have concluded there is a possible scientific rationale for it being effective in some arthritic conditions for some people.
I remain undecided but it is not to be sneered at.
I understand it was developed in an Anglo-Russian research alliiance and is manufactured in Germany.
I don't think the water repellling car-engine treatment, WD40, had that sort of backing.
Best wishes,
SIQ.

[ganesh]

Yeah, I was hoping it would be prescribed just because it is quite pricey and it would obviously be cheaper for me if I got it on prescription. It does not contain the usual 'painkiller' type ingredients and is therefore not a temporary fix but works on a long-term solution to the cause rather than masking the pain briefly. All I know is it works for me and so would recommend others tried it. The steroid jab did nothing for me even though I expected it to, and loads of people say that it works for them. I always think that some things work better on some people, eg Paracetomol never seems to work on a headache for me but nurofen does. I don't think its a 'placebo' cream at all. It just works on some and not on others.