My Disappointing Experience with Niz Active Gel

I've been cleaning out my first aid kit, checking the expiration dates on my medications, and I found almost a full tube of Niz Active Gel. I should've gotten rid of this stuff a long time ago, but honestly, I've been putting it off because I felt bad about wasting my money.

Where I bought it: Any local pharmacy. I'm not sure why I bought it, but I think it was on a whim.

Cost: To be honest, I don't remember how much I paid. According to online pharmacy websites, a 100-gram tube of Niz Active Gel costs between 550 and 650 rubles. It's not the cheapest option, but it's not the most expensive either.

Manufacturer: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., India. I've heard good things about this company, but I've never actually used any of their products before.

Weight: 100 grams. It's a decent size, but I wish it came in smaller tubes for travel.

Ingredients:

1 gram of gel contains 10 mg of nimesulide.Excipients:Dimethyl sulfoxideDiethylene glycol, monoethyl etherPropylene glycol, monohydrate of lemon acidSepineo R 600 (acrylamide/acryloyldimethyltaurate sodium copolymer, isohexadecane, polysorbate 80)"Calm Valley" flavoring agentPurified waterExpiration date is indicated on the packaging and on the tube: I'm not sure how to read the expiration date, but I'm pretty sure it's still good for a while.

Form of release: Gel for external use 1 %. It comes in a tube made of laminated aluminum with a protective membrane. I was really impressed with the packaging - it's very durable and easy to use.

Recommended storage: at a temperature not exceeding 25 degrees Celsius. Do not freeze. Store in a place inaccessible to children. I store it in my medicine cabinet, but I'm not sure if that's the best place for it.

Pharmaceutical release: Over the counter. I bought it without a prescription, but I'm not sure if that's always the case.

Indications for use: Local symptomatic treatment of musculoskeletal system diseases: joint syndrome, including exacerbation of gout, rheumatic diseases, psoriasis, osteoarthritis: osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome; radiculitis, inflammatory damage to ligaments, tendons; bursitis; sciatica: lumbago. Muscle pain of rheumatic and non-rheumatic origin. Post-traumatic inflammation of soft tissues and the musculoskeletal system (damage and rupture of ligaments, bruises). The drug is intended for symptomatic therapy, reducing pain and inflammation at the time of application, and does not affect the progression of the disease.

Contraindications: I've noticed that increased sensitivity to nimesulide and other components of the medication is a thing. If you've got a full or partial combination of bronchial asthma, angioneurotic edema, or urticaria, recurring nasal polyps and sinusitis, and an intolerance to acetylsalicylic acid and other NSAIDs (including those in your medical history), this medication might not be for you. If you've got erosive-ulcerative lesions in your digestive tract that are active, bleeding from your digestive tract, dermatoses, skin damage, or skin infections in the area where you're applying the medication, you should avoid this product. If you've got severe kidney (creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min) or liver dysfunction, pregnancy, or breastfeeding, or you're under 12, this medication is not suitable for you.

How to Use and Dosage: Apply it topically. Only apply it to clean, dry skin. A 3 cm long tube of gel should be applied evenly and thinly to the area of maximum discomfort, without rubbing it in. Use it 3-4 times a day. Don't rub it in intensely or apply it under an occlusive dressing. Don't use it for more than 10 days without consulting your doctor. If you don't see any improvement or new symptoms appear after treatment, you should consult your doctor. Use the product exactly as directed and in the specified dosage.

Side Effects: Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: rarely, itchiness; very rarely, hives, scaling: when applying topical forms of nimesulide, a transient change in skin color may occur (without the need to discontinue treatment). When applying the product to large areas of skin or using it for a long time, it's possible to develop systemic side effects characteristic of nimesulide: heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. Mucosal lesions in the digestive tract. Increased activity of liver transaminases; headache, dizziness; fluid retention, hematuria: allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock. skin rash): thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, anemia, agranulocytosis, prolonged bleeding time.

I was really impressed with the packaging of the Niz Active Gel - it comes in a tube made of laminated aluminum with a protective membrane. The gel itself is transparent with a slight yellow tint.

Why I bought this product: I'm always on the lookout for a good topical pain reliever, and I don't really have a go-to brand - I just buy whatever's recommended or reviewed well. That's how I ended up with the Niz Active Gel. I needed to apply something to my lower back yet again, and someone suggested I try this gel. The active ingredient, nimesulide, has a good reputation as a pain reliever, so I was confident it would work. But, as they say, the devil's in the details.

Fast forward, the Niz Active Gel really delivered on its pain-relieving properties - it's a very effective product. My lower back can be a real pain (no pun intended) - I have a herniated disc and spinal stenosis, and it can be debilitating at times. But when I applied the gel, I was surprised at how quickly the pain subsided. I applied it in the evening and woke up the next morning feeling fine - no more aching back. I didn't experience any side effects or negative reactions, which was a bonus.

But, as often happens, there's a catch - or in this case, two catches.

The first thing that really stood out to me was the absolutely horrific smell. I'm not even kidding, it hits me right away, and then after a while, when the gel's been on my skin for a bit, this weird, sweet, nauseating amber scent becomes unbearable. Maybe it's a COVID thing, because I've never noticed this before, but lately, I've been getting really sensitive to certain smells that are just awful.

The second issue is that the gel doesn't absorb at all. It's got a gel-like consistency, and it spreads evenly on the skin, but it doesn't absorb at all. And that combo of a nasty, unpleasant smell with the feeling of a sticky film left behind was just causing me so much discomfort. I usually apply it at night, but even after one use, I had to change my sheets completely. The smell isn't sharp, but it's just really unpleasant.

So, despite the great pain-relieving effect, this gel just ended up collecting dust in my medicine cabinet and getting tossed in the trash, almost full. Of course, some people might not find these drawbacks significant, but for me, using this product was extremely uncomfortable. I prefer using products that not only relieve pain but also don't cause discomfort when applying them.

As a pain reliever, Niz Active Gel performed decently. But the execution fell short.

Main Pros:

Pain-relieving effect.Available over-the-counter.Widely available in pharmacies.Cost is pretty affordable.Main Cons:

Horrendous smell.The design is really water-resistant, I was able to get it wet and it didn't absorb much at all.Thanks for reading!