| abstract |
The topical gel comprises: a) 0.1 to 20% by weight of an non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; b) 0.1-10% by weight of a xanthine derivative; c) 0.1-10% by weight of gelling agents; d) 5-60% by weight of co-solvent for the NSAID and the xanthine derivative and e) 10-90% by weight of water. The NSAID is selected from propionic acid derivative, acetic acid derivative, fenamic acid derivative, biphenylcarboxylic acid derivative and an oxicam or salts thereof and mixtures thereof. The xanthine derivative has the formula I wherein: R1-R3 are independently H, methyl or ethyl with at least two of R1-R3 being methyl or ethyl or mixtures thereof. The gelling agents can be carboxy containing mono-ethyleneically unsaturated monomer such as a crosslinked carboxyl vinyl polymer of acetic acid. The co-solvent is an alcohol such as ethanol. |