Penetrex Review: Don’t Buy Before You Read This!
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What is it?
Penetrex is a topical cream that is used for relief from inflammation-related pain. The manufacturer lists it as an effective treatment for:
- Bursitis/Tendonitis/Arthritis.
- Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow.
It is applied directly to the afflicted area and its emulsive formula helps it penetrate the skin and provide pain relief without ever passing through the digestive system.
Currently our experts’ top-rated joint health supplement is Flexitrinol. Their proprietary blend provides both short- and long-term benefits for joints, cartilage, and overall immune health. Flexitrinol stimulates cartilage and joint fluid generation so that joints naturally retain their range of painless motion.
Penetrex Ingredients and Side Effects
Penetrex’s ingredients list is long and includes a variety of less-tested laboratory based chemicals. They do not make any dosage amounts available, which makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness and safety of the product for any given consumer. Their website highlights some ingredients in particular including:
| Arnica |
Pyridoxine |
MSM |
| Boswellia Serrata |
CMO |
Dimethicone |
Arnica: An herb whose flowers are used as a pain reliever and topical swelling, bruising, and arthritis medication. There are a number of health complications that are associated with arnica and its use as a food additive has been banned by the Canadian government. Arnica is considered poisonous in larger doses and has been responsible for a number of deaths. Other potentially serious complications associated with arnica include:
Pyridoxine: A form of vitamin B6 that’s been used in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy and certain other hereditary disorders. It is rare that pyridoxine will have any side effects if taken short term, however long term users have occasionally shown signs of:
- Tingling/numbness in extremities.
MSM: One of the leading joint health additives available today. Methylsulfonylmethane is derived from certain fruits and plants and has a number of medicinal applications including osteoarthritis and improved immune functionality. Side effects associated with MSM are rare.
Boswellia Serrata: An extract taken from the Indian Frankincense tree that’s thought of as a curative in Ayurvedic medicine. Boswellia has been used to treat bursitis, tendonitis, and various forms of arthritis. There are few side effects associated with boswellia extracts, however some users have experienced irritation and rashes when it is applied topically.
CMO: Cetyl Myristoleate is an animal derived compound frequently taken to alleviate pain associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It acts as a joint lubricant and anti-inflammatory, and there are no known side effects associated with CMO at this time.
Dimethicone: A filler ingredient that doesn’t have any nutritional value. It’s used in many lotions to give them a spreadable feel and many manufacturers will claim that it helps eliminate wrinkles, however that is mostly due to merely filling in cracks cosmetically. It is associated with a number of side effects including:
- Decreased endocrine functionality
Overall the ingredients of Penetrex make it seem like it could be an effective pain reliever on a short term basis, however it contains very few additives that lead our experts to believe it has any long-term benefits or addresses any of the core issues that lead to joint pain in the first place.
Our panel of nutritional experts has created a list of the most effective joint health supplements currently on the market – click here to see it.
Penetrex Quality of Ingredients
Penetrex contains some of the best ingredients currently known for helping with joint pain, mobility and flexibility. Unfortunately, they also contain some ingredients with some potentially negative consequences.
Our panel of experts recommend when looking for supplements you seek out products containing boswellia extract and MSM, as those are two of the most beneficial, least dangerous products on the market today. Both are proven anti-inflammatories that can actually improve the overall health of joints and ligaments.
Arnica, however, is considered too dangerous for our experts to recommend for daily use. Too many deaths and serious health issues have been associated with the drug, especially long-term application, and ideally nutritional supplements are safe for everyday use.
The topical nature of Penetrex also prevents it from having much of a long term effect on joint health as it interacts mostly with symptomatic ailments as opposed to addressing their underlying causes.
Click here to see a list of the most reliable and effective joint health supplements currently available over the counter.
The Price and Quality of Penetrex
Penetrex is sold both online and through select terrestrial outlets. Their website offers four different buying options:
- 1 2 oz. jar of Penetrex cream: $19.95
- 1 4 oz. jar of Penetrex cream: $35.95
- 6 2 oz. jars of Penetrex cream: $99.00
- 3 4 oz. jars of Penetrex cream: $99.00
It is hard to say whether or not this represents a good value. Depending on how pressing your short-term joint pain relief needs are this may be a worthwhile product, though it’s certainly more expensive than most over the counter pain relievers with little reason to believe it would be more effective. Penetrex is not recommended for long term use.
Our experts have generated a list of the most effective joint health products that you can find here.
Business of Penetrex
Penetrex is owned by Biomax Health Products, Inc, a general health and wellness aids manufacturer. The can be contacted at:
Phone Number: (800) 541-3550
Address: 14844 Fisher Cove
Del Mar, CA 92014
Email: [email protected]
Biomax Health Products is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, however there do not seem to be any outstanding lawsuits or formal complaints with the business at this time.
To see our experts’ list of the best joint health supplements available to consumers, click here.
Customer Opinions of Penetrex
The majority of reviews online are favorable for Penetrex’s ability to relieve pain short-term, however there are few mentions of customers using it for any long-term benefits.
“No more effective for my knee pain than if I’d just rubbed lotion on it.”
“Worked ok, but constant re-application is messy and expensive.”
“Used it one time and developed a rash; had to throw it out.”
The lotion comparison was one that was repeated many times in several different outlets. Other users were critical of the cost and their customer service interactions when attempting to return the product.
Click here if you’re looking for a list of the top quality nutritional supplements for joint health.
Conclusion – Does Penetrex Work?
Penetrex may or may not work for any given consumer. For those looking only for short-term inflammation related pain relief it is possible that Penetrex will be effective. For those looking to address the underlying issues of collagen production, cartilage health, and long term flexibility and mobility, they would probably be better suited for a more traditional joint health supplement. Chronic use of Penetrex is not recommended due to the adverse health effects associated with arnica.
Our experts have concluded that the best supplement for long-term joint health is Flexitrinol. Its combination of glucosamine, chondroiten, and other leading ingredients stimulates collagen growth and leads to increased joint and tendon health and wellness. Flexitrinol is safe for every day use and acts as an anti-inflammatory, pain reliever, and supports overall immune health as well.
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I was in pain from July to November with a bad knee sprain, swelling, limping, could not even get off the toilet or put my shoes and socks on without excruciating pain. I own a dog walking service and could barely walk. I saw a doctor who recommended ice, elevation and rest, motrin. I was about to return to the doctors and ask for a cortisone shot and an mri, was feeling very scared and hopeless. Found penetrex while searching for a better knee brace. Applied it twice the first day, and twice the next and by that next day i was able to walk 99% pain free, felt some mild discomfort when I hit one mile, but it faded, never became even moderately bad. Saw the swelling around my knee cap was gone too. i stopped taking motrin and have been pain free for a week now, feel completely normal again, have my life back! I didnt apply the penetrex yesterday or today, and still pain free. If pain returns, I will use it on an as needed basis. It helped my shoulder pain and hand pain too, dog walking pains, but my healed knee is the most dramatic. This stuff is miraculous medicine as far as I’m concerned and have told everyone I know who has pain issues about it.
So happy for you that Penetrex help restore your life and business. I have arthritis everywhere and can take arthrotec intermittently due to gastric side effects. Both hips have been replaced and my right knee pain is next . These replacements are so helpful, but there is nothing I’m aware of that helps hands. Despite significant pain, I continued to crochet and knit, but I needed help. I’m so glad I found Penetrex— it really helps my hands and carpal tunnel syndrome. While it doesn’t remove all, the pain is easily manageable and I can un-grit my teeth and smile when doing needle work. Recently I went a couple of weeks not using the cream and my hands returned to their chronic aching and joint swelling. I feel confident recommending this product and hope others find the same pain relief with Penetrex.
I ordered Penetrex because Medicare has not responded to my physician’s request for an authorization of a prescription anti-inflammatory for especially painful hand/finger osteoarthritis. I’m tired of waiting. I just used my first application of Penetrex so I can’t make a solid review. However, in the above article they seem to try to make Arnica sound risky. I don’t believe it since many over-the-counter arthritis/muscle pain ointments contain Arnica and have for a long time. I am hopeful that Penetrex will offer me at least some relief.
Penetrex has worked like a miracle for me. I have severe osteoarthritis of my right hip, which has developed over many years. Finally it has becom extremely painful, limiting me to walking very carefully with a cane (almost like shuffling along), unable to put my socks on, and often unable to get to sleep for the continual ache. I am on a heavy Tylenol regimen at the limit of its daily usage, and the orthopedic surgeon could only counsel “continue as you are doing. I’ll be ready for when you are ready for the replacement.”
My wife suggested Penetrex and after the first application one evening, the pain was largely gone the next morning and for the next day. After a second application in the evening, the pain was entirely gone the next morning and all day. A third application has left me pain free during the remainder of this week.
I still walk carefully with my cane to avoid triggering any flare-up tenderness in my leg, but while sitting and standing still I am pain free so far.
I bless the day I heard of penetrex. It has been more effective than any diet supplement I have taken for any reason (including glucosamine/chondroitin, which have no effect).
I have no plans to ingest it, lest anyone worry 🙂 and I will not mind periodic re-applications if and as necessary. It really works!
I am seventy-seven years old with minor arthritis in my knees, elbows, and wrists. I regularly exercise at a fitness center and still have very good mobility. If I over do an exercise routine the resulting discomfort is easily controlled by rubbing a small amount of Penetrex directly onto the area of greatest discomfort. I thought the improvement might just be in my mind but I’ve tested it so many times and it has always worked for me.
try it ! i have 2 knees w/ arthritis. it’s bone on bone and i qualify for knee replacement and get cortisone shots every 9 months. so it’s painful enough to cause a limp often. i am 51 and am chicken to get surgery and feel l’m too young to have it yet anyway. tried many creams w/o any relief. with so many great reviews i took a chance on penetrex 2 years ago and it has been a godsend. i have to live frugally so only use it 1/day and it still gets me back on my feet in 15 min. lasts about 4 hours w/ my 1 application. maybe doesn’t work for everyone but you really should try to see if it helps you.
This has worked about as well as anything else, including Voltaren gel, for my hand arthritis. And unlike Voltaren and most other topical inflammation relievers, Penetrex appears to hold up better for prolonged use. All the stuff about Arnica somehow being harmful, (or even “deadly,”) is complete nonsense considering this is only a topical cream.