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Q. I have heard about a drug available from Canada (not available in US) by the name of "Pennsat" or something similar that is only available by prescription. Would you kindly send me correct spelling and information about this drug.
A. The prescription medicine you are interested in is Pennsaid. It is a topical lotion that contains the powerful anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac in a carrier called DMSO. This allows for the drug to penetrate tissues without irritating the digestive tract.
You are right that Pennsaid has not yet been approved for sale in the U.S. Your doctor can write a prescription for Voltaren gel, though, which also contains topical diclofenac. It is FDA approved and available in U.S. pharmacies.
I use a legal-in-the-USA product containing DMSO, called Soothanol, by mail order. My lower back sometimes won't unkink when I retire. This stuff does the trick. However, it stinks! Sort of like VapoRub. It's a liquid in a one ounce bottle with a roll-on top. I have in the past crossed into Canada for an OTC drug that was cheaper there and prescription-only here. (On Medicare now. My prescriptions are affordable.)
I would like to know how to find DMSO without the menthol in either country, OTC. It would be a pain (different kind!) to find a Canadian prescriber and get that Pennsaid in Canada. Maybe Canadian pharmacies honor stateside doctors' prescriptions. I honestly can't remember. My own doctor would probably write it, or maybe not. Help!