Table of Contents
Executive Summary
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- The issues
- Feminine pain reliever sales descend further
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- Figure 1: Percent change in MULO sales of internal analgesics, by subsegments, rolling 52-weeks 2015 and 2016
- Internal analgesic purchases are automatic; consumers are not seeking advice
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- Figure 2: Purchase factors when choosing an internal pain reliever, March 2016
- Perceptions of external analgesics are soft
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- Figure 3: External analgesic format perceptions, March 2016
- The opportunities
- Opportunity to expand usage among older adults
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- Figure 4: Heating/cooling wraps or patches use, by age, March 2016
- Increase first-use of external analgesics in treatment steps
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- Figure 5: Used first in pain relieving treatment plan, March 2016
- Stress-reducing pain relievers could offer relaxation and relief
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- Figure 6: Sources of pain, March 2016
- What it means
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- The analgesics market experiences modest growth
- Internal analgesics dominate the market; yet external growing quicker
- Alternative pain relieving options likely impact OTC analgesics sales
- Stress and age factor into the need for pain relief
Market Size and Forecast
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- Modest market growth continues
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- Figure 7: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of OTC analgesics, at current prices, 2011-21
- Figure 8: Total US sales and forecast of OTC analgesics, at current prices, 2011-21
Market Breakdown
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- Internal analgesics lead the market; yet external growing more rapidly
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- Figure 9: Market share of OTC analgesics sales, by segment, 2014 and 2016
- Figure 10: Percent change in OTC analgesics sales, by segment, at current prices, 2012-16
- Other retail channels remain the go-to for analgesics
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- Figure 11: Total US retail sales of analgesics, by channel, at current prices, 2014 and 2016
Market Perspective
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- Muscle/body devices protect against pain
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- Figure 12: MULO sales of muscle/body support devices, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52-weeks 2015 and 2016
- TENS devices can offer at-home relief
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- Figure 13: MULO sales of electrotherapy devices, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52-weeks 2015 and 2016
Market Factors
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- Chronic stress can lead to pain
- Age factors in how pain is treated; shifting dynamics have market impact
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- Figure 14: US population aged 18 or older, by age, 2011-21
Key Players – What You Need to Know
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- High selling internal analgesic brands sustain the analgesics market
- Diversified external analgesics segment and iconic internal brands succeeding
- Sales decline for niche pain category; overmedicating on alert
- External patches, wearable devices, and retro brands are on the horizon
Manufacturer Sales of Analgesics
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- Top companies in the market driven by internal analgesic sales
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- Figure 15: Manufacturer sales of analgesics, 2015 and 2016
What’s Working?
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- Several players in the external segment lifting sales in the overall market
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- Figure 16: MULO sales of external analgesics by leading companies and brands, rolling 52-weeks 2015 and 2016
- J&J sales boost a slow growing internal segment
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- Figure 17: MULO sales of internal analgesics, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52-weeks 2015 and 2016
What’s Struggling?
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- Sales of feminine internal pain relievers continue downward
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- Figure 18: MULO sales of feminine pain relievers, by select companies and brands, rolling 52-weeks 2015 and 2016
- Overmedicating for pain relief is under scrutiny
What’s Next?
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- BLUE-EMU launches first lidocaine patch
- Traditionally internal medication administered via a skin patch
- More wearable TENS devices available to consumers; Quell wins award
- What’s old could be new again
The Consumer – What You Need to Know
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- Pain is common, so is use of pain relieving medications
- A medication is consumers’ first treatment choice to relieve pain
- The causes of pain are diverse; stress leads the way
- Consumers purchase OTC internal remedies based on experience
- OTC external analgesics elicit stronger purchasing requirements
- Internal analgesics garner stronger perceptions than external
- Single dosages, guidance, natural and migraine patches appeal to some consumers
Pain Reliever Use
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- Experiencing some pain and using a treatment is almost certain
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- Figure 19: Pain reliever use, March 2016
- Internal analgesics used most; type used varies by gender and age
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- Figure 20: Internal pain reliever use, by gender and age, March 2016
- More than one third of adults use an external remedy
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- Figure 21: External pain reliever use, by age, March 2016
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- Figure 22: Cross of external pain reliever use by internal remedies, March 2016
- White and Hispanic adults most likely to use an analgesic
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- Figure 23: Pain reliever use, by race and Hispanic origin, March 2016
Treatment Plan for Pain Relief
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- When pain strikes, consumers turn to medications for relief
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- Figure 24: Treatment plan for pain relief, March 2016
- Consumers specifically treat with an OTC internal analgesic first
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- Figure 25: Use first in pain relieving treatment plan, March 2016
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- Figure 26: Use of an internal OTC first in pain relieving treatment plan, by age, race, and Hispanic origin, March 2016
- Resting is also a key to treatment; particularly among young adults
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- Figure 27: Use rest in pain relieving treatment plan, by 1st, 2nd, 3rd and any 1st/2nd/3rd by gender and age, March 2016
- Asian adults turning to nonmedical treatments first; Black adults resting
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- Figure 28: Use first in pain relieving treatment plan, by race and Hispanic origin, March 2016
Sources of Pain
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- Stress is considered the leading source of pain
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- Figure 29: Sources of pain, March 2016
- Older adults more likely to associate age as the source of body pain
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- Figure 30: Age as source of pain, by age, March 2016
- Health ailments are also a driving force for pain
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- Figure 31: Medical issues as source of pain, by age, March 2016
- Perceptions of pain caused by physical activity varies by race and ethnicity
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- Figure 32: Activity as source of pain, by race and Hispanic origin, March 2016
Choosing an Internal OTC Pain Reliever
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- Internal pain relievers are dependable choice
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- Figure 33: Purchase factors when choosing an internal pain reliever, March 2016
- Price and brand are more important to men
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- Figure 34: Select purchase factors when choosing an internal pain reliever, by gender, March 2016
- White adults trust what has worked; while Black adults seek fast acting
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- Figure 35: Select purchase factors when choosing an internal pain reliever, by race and Hispanic origin, March 2016
Choosing an External OTC Pain Reliever
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- External OTC pain reliever users have stronger purchasing requirements
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- Figure 36: Purchase factors when choosing an external pain reliever, March 2016
- Consumers seek out information about external analgesics
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- Figure 37: Impact of a recommendation, product reviews, and commercial when choosing an external pain reliever, by gender and age, race and Hispanic origin, and generation, March 2016
Format Perceptions
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- Perceptions of internal analgesics more positive than external
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- Figure 38: Format perceptions, March 2016
- Consumers’ familiarity with tablets drives up perceptions
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- Figure 39: Internal analgesic format perceptions, March 2016
- External formats garner soft perceptions; barriers to use stand out
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- Figure 40: External analgesic format perceptions, March 2016
Interest in Innovations
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- More than one third of adults are interested in single-dose medications
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- Figure 41: Interest in single-dose medications, by age, March 2016
- Some adults would like more guidance in finding pain relief
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- Figure 42: Interest in advice and technology innovations, by age, March 2016
- Natural remedies have noteworthy appeal
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- Figure 43: Interest in natural ingredients, Arnica, and aromatherapy/essential oils, by age, March 2016
- Migraine/headache patch to relieve pain appeals to young women
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- Figure 44: Interest in external patch for migraine/headaches, by gender and age, March 2016
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- Figure 45: Experience migraine headaches, by gender, Fall 2015 NHCS Adult Study 12-month
Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
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- Data sources
- Sales data
- Fan chart forecast
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
Appendix – Market
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- Figure 46: Total US sales and forecast of OTC analgesics, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2011-21
- Figure 47: Total US retail sales of analgesics, by channel, at current prices, 2011-16
- Figure 48: Total US retail sales and forecast of analgesics, by segment, at current prices, 2011-21
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- Figure 49: Total US retail sales of analgesics, by segment, at current prices, 2014 and 2016
- Figure 50: MULO sales of muscle/body support devices, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52-weeks 2015 and 2016
- Figure 51: MULO sales of electrotherapy devices, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52-weeks 2015 and 2016
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Appendix – Key Players
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- Figure 52: MULO sales of internal analgesics, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52-weeks 2015 and 2016
- Figure 53: MULO sales of external analgesics by leading companies and brands, rolling 52-weeks 2015 and 2016
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- Figure 54: Percentage of adults agreeing with statement – Any agree (net)*, 2011-15
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