Muscle Rub Pain Reliever Gel MENTHOL, UNSPECIFIED FORM 25 mg/g Gel, 1 tube
by Universal Distribution Centre LLC · 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (52000-072-04) / 35.4 g in 1 TUBE (52000-072-03)
NDC 52000-0072-04
🏷️ FDA NDC (as labeled)
52000-072-04
billing pads the product segment with a zero
This package
Contains1 tube
Pack sizes2 compare ↓
Also comes in:
35.4 g 52000-0072-02
OTC
On market
Non-controlled
🗂️ Data synced Sep 17, 2026 · sources: openFDA · FDA label (DailyMed) · FDA Orange & Purple Book · First Databank · CMS NADAC, ASP, Medicare & Medicaid · RxNorm
📋 All sources & update times →
🆔 Identity & classification
FDA NDC (as labeled)
52000-072-04
Product NDC
52000-072
11-digit billing NDC
52000007204
RxCUI
282805
UNII
L7T10EIP3A
Application #
M017
SPL Set ID
b9a563b6-7988-79df-e053-2995a90a752b
DEA schedule
Non-controlled
Marketing category
OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG
Marketing status
On market
FDA listing status
Listed (active directory)
Marketing start
2021-01-24
Route
TOPICAL
Dosage form
GEL
Substance
MENTHOL, UNSPECIFIED FORM
Why two NDCs?
The FDA registers this code as 52000-072-04 — a 5-3-2 layout, and that's what's printed on the package and shown on DailyMed. For insurance claims, every NDC is standardized to a uniform 11-digit 5-4-2 format by adding a zero to the product segment → 52000-0072-04. Same drug, same package — only the format differs.
Where does this data come from?
Identifiers from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Structured Product Labeling; RxCUI from RxNorm (NLM); GPI from Medi-Span; GCN / HIC / AHFS / legend from First Databank.
🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
LabelerUniversal Distribution Centre LLC
FDA applicationM017 (OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG)
Labeler code52000
First marketedJan 2021
Product typeHuman Otc Drug
Portfolio3 products on file
The labeler markets the product; the application holder owns the FDA approval. They’re often the same company but can differ (e.g. a repackager or an authorized generic). A mailing address / phone appears here when the manufacturer includes it in the product’s FDA label (not all do).
Where does this data come from?
Labeler, application holder and registered establishment from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Drugs@FDA; address/contact from the product’s FDA label.
🩺 Clinical
📗 Our plain-language guide HelloPharmacist
- Menthol is found in a lot of over-the-counter topical products — creams, gels, patches, sprays, and powders. Depending on the product, it's used to temporarily ease minor muscle an...
- Start with clean, dry skin — free of lotions or creams — before applying the patch. Peel the backing off and press the sticky side firmly to the sore area. Most menthol patches sho...
- Yes, a mild burning or tingling feeling right after applying a menthol product is common and usually settles down within a few days of regular use. What's not normal is severe burn...
- Is that burning sensation after I apply it normal?
Patient education
Supplement & herbal interactions
Where does this data come from?
Plain-language summary from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine); supplement & herbal interactions and nutrient depletion data from the Natural Medicines database; our full guide is HelloPharmacist editorial content.
💬 Questions about MENTHOL, UNSPECIFIED FORM?
Ask a pharmacist →
Ask a licensed pharmacist directly — free, answered by our team.
🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
💡 Tap an ingredient (hover on desktop) to see what it is and why it’s used.
-
UNII 1P9D0Z171K
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant that prevents fats and oils in medicines from breaking down and becoming rancid. It helps keep the product stable and effective during storage.
-
UNII 5TJD82A1ET
A cooling crystalline substance made synthetically that is added to medicines as a fragrance, flavoring agent, and mild local irritant to produce a cooling or warming sensation on the skin or mucous membranes.
-
UNII 0A5MM307FC
A synthetic polymer that absorbs water and forms a thick, gel-like substance. In medicines, it works as a thickener and stabilizer to improve texture and help ingredients stay mixed together in creams, gels, and lotions.
-
UNII O020065R7Z
A synthetic emulsifier derived from isocetyl alcohol and ethylene oxide. It helps mix oil and water-based ingredients together and improves the texture and stability of creams, lotions, and ointments.
-
UNII ND2M416302
Isopropyl alcohol is a clear liquid solvent derived from petroleum. In medicines, it dissolves active ingredients and other components, helps the product flow smoothly, and aids in sterilization during manufacturing.
-
UNII 7YC686GQ8F
A synthetic oily substance made from castor oil. It works as a solubilizer and emulsifier to help mix oily and water-based ingredients together in the medicine.
-
UNII 55X04QC32I
A strong alkaline chemical used to adjust and maintain the pH balance of liquid medicines. It helps keep the medicine stable and ensures it stays effective during storage.
-
UNII 059QF0KO0R
Water is a liquid solvent that dissolves and mixes ingredients together in liquid medicines, syrups, and injections. It helps distribute the active drug evenly throughout the product.
8 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.
The official label also statescamphor, carbomer, DMDM hydantoin, isoceteth-20, isopropyl alcohol, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, sodium hydroxide, water
Label-section wording can be broader than the structured product block and may mention additional formulation ingredients.
Where does this data come from?
Data sourced from official FDA Structured Product Labeling (SPL) via DailyMed —
ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.Inactive ingredient FAQ
Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
No. Inactive ingredients can differ by manufacturer, dosage form, strength, and package / product version.
Why might an inactive ingredient be missing?
Some SPLs do not provide a complete structured inactive-ingredient list, and older or unusual labels may only include the information in narrative text.
Can inactive ingredients matter?
Yes. They can matter for allergies, intolerances, dyes, gluten / lactose concerns, preservatives, and formulation differences — but confirm with a pharmacist or the manufacturer when it’s clinically important.
💲 Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per g | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | Not in the retail survey — common for institutional, discontinued, or low-volume packs. | |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data. | |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · quarterly | No Part D plan price is available for this NDC in our data. | |
ℹ️
No price is published for this exact package yet. CMS surveys NADAC per package size, so a different pack of the same drug often has one.
Try another pack size:
35.4 g
Where does this data come from?
NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) is the CMS weekly pharmacy-acquisition-cost survey — what pharmacies pay. ASP (Average Sales Price) is the CMS Medicare Part B drug-payment file, published quarterly. Medicaid pays is computed by us from CMS State Drug Utilization Data (total reimbursed ÷ units, trailing 12 months) — gross of rebates and inclusive of dispensing fees, so it reflects what Medicaid paid, not an acquisition cost. Medicare drug plans pay is the median negotiated point-of-sale unit cost across plans listing this NDC in the CMS quarterly Prescription Drug Plan pricing files, before rebates. The VA pays is the federal contract price (FSS, and the statutory Big 4 ceiling where listed) from the VA National Acquisition Center pharmaceutical price file. All are free public government data; each measures a different payer, so the figures are not directly comparable.
🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icy Hot Vanishing Scent .025 g/g 41167-0092-00 | Chattem, | 1 tube | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| 2.5% Menthol PAIN RELIEF 25 mg/g 43473-0096-02 | Nantong | 1 tube | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| CAREALL Musle and Joint 25 mg/g 51824-0014-03 | New | 85 g | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Muscle Rub Pain Reliever Gel 25 mg/gthis 52000-0072-04 | Universal | 1 tube | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| 2.5% Menthol PAIN RELIEF 25 mg/g 52000-0440-02 | Universal | 1 tube | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Family Care Muscle and Joint 25 mg/g 65923-0144-57 | United | 1 tube | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Winco Muscle and Joint Pain Relief Gel 2oz 25 mg/g 67091-0941-02 | WINCO | 1 tube | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Bengay Vanishing Scent 25 mg/g 69968-0595-02 | Kenvue | 1 tube | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| TheraCare Muscle and Joint Gel Vanishing Scent 2.5 g/100g 71101-0129-01 | Veridian | 1 tube | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Pain-X 25 mg/g 80489-0003-01 | OL | 1 tube | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Muscle Rub 25 mg/g 80489-0004-01 | OL | 1 tube | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Thera Plus Extra Strength Muscle Rub Topical Analgesic 25 mg/g 80684-0139-00 | FOURSTAR | 42.5 g | — | — | FDA listed | — |
About this product: other versions of the same ingredient, strength and form are listed above, least expensive first, with FDA equivalence ratings where available.
Where does this data come from?
Equivalents are other NDCs of the same ingredient, form and route from the openFDA NDC Directory, ranked least-expensive-first by NADAC. Therapeutic-equivalence (AB) ratings come from the FDA Orange Book; biologics use the FDA Purple Book for biosimilar & interchangeable status.
⏳ Availability & generic status
🏛️
2021
On the market since
Jan 2021
📍
2026
Currently FDA-listed
5 years listed
🔒
·
No generic listed yet
brand only
ℹ️No FDA-approved generic found
We did not find an FDA-approved generic match for this exact strength, form and route.
Where does this data come from?
Patents and exclusivity from the FDA Orange Book (small-molecule drugs), refreshed from public FDA data. Generic launch timing is an estimate, not a guarantee.
🔬 Reported adverse events (FAERS)
Read carefully: FAERS reports are voluntary and unverified. Counts are not incidence, do not establish causation, are subject to reporting bias, and cannot be used to compare one drug to another. Shown for signal context only. Reports for MENTHOL, UNSPECIFIED FORM — the ingredient across all brands.
Top reported reactions
Age at onset
Reporter sex
Male · 26%
Female · 73%
Unknown · 0%
Serious outcomes
Reports over time (by year) — tap or hover for the count & year
Most recent year is provisional (FAERS lags ~3 months).
Where does this data come from?
Adverse-event reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA. FAERS reports are voluntary and unverified — counts are not incidence and don’t establish causation.
📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52000-0072-02 | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (52000-072-02) / 35.4 g in 1 TUBE (52000-072-01) | 2021-01-24 | Inactivated by FDA |
| 52000-0072-04 You're viewing this | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (52000-072-04) / 35.4 g in 1 TUBE (52000-072-03) | 2021-01-24 | Active |
Pack size FAQ
What quantity is in NDC 52000-0072-04?
NDC 52000-0072-04 contains 1 tube — 1 tube in 1 carton / 35.4 g in 1 tube.
What is the difference between NDC 52000-0072-04 and NDC 52000-0072-02?
Both are Muscle Rub Pain Reliever Gel MENTHOL, UNSPECIFIED FORM 25 mg/g Gel — the drug itself is identical. NDC 52000-0072-04 is the 1 tube package, while NDC 52000-0072-02 is the 1 tube package.
What NDC number is used to bill for this package of Muscle Rub Pain Reliever Gel MENTHOL, UNSPECIFIED FORM 25 mg/g Gel?
Bill NDC 52000-0072-04 — the 11-digit billing format is 52000007204. Pharmacy and medical claims use the 11-digit form; the FDA label may print a shorter form of the same code.
🧭 About this NDC listing & data coverage
Over-the-counter (OTC) product
What data is (and isn’t) available for this NDC — tap to expand
| NDC identity (package / product / labeler codes) | ✓ Available |
| Labeler | ✓ Available |
| Product & package description | ✓ Available |
| Marketing category & status | ✓ Available |
| Active ingredient / dosage form / route | ✓ Available |
| FDA label (SPL via DailyMed) | ✓ Available |
| Package photos | ✓ Available |
| Inactive ingredients (structured) | ✓ Available |
| NADAC pharmacy acquisition price (CMS) | — Not published for this NDC CMS publishes NADAC only for NDCs reported in its retail-pharmacy survey. |
| Orange Book / therapeutic-equivalence data | — Not published for this NDC Applies only to products approved under an NDA/ANDA; many listings are out of scope. |
| HCPCS J-code billing crosswalk | — Not published for this NDC Most self-administered / retail products have no J-code — that is normal. |
| Medicaid utilization (CMS SDUD) | — Not published for this NDC CMS reports utilization only for NDCs with Medicaid claims above its privacy threshold. |
“Not published” reflects what the public FDA / CMS / NLM sources provide for this exact package code — it is a property of the data feeds, not a judgment about the product.
Questions about this listing
Is this NDC FDA-approved?
An NDC listing does not by itself establish FDA approval — the NDC Directory records that a product is listed with FDA, not that it was reviewed and approved. This listing's marketing category is "Otc Monograph Drug". Products approved under an application carry an NDA, ANDA, or BLA number.
Why is there no price listed?
The pricing shown on our NDC pages comes from CMS NADAC, a voluntary survey of retail community pharmacy invoices. CMS does not publish a NADAC for every NDC — packages outside the retail survey (institutional and hospital products, bulk packages, discontinued items, and many OTC items) may never receive one. A missing price reflects the survey's scope, not this product's actual cost, and does not mean the product is free or unavailable.
Is the NDC printed on the package the same as the 11-digit billing NDC?
Yes, they identify this exact package in different formats. The FDA registers it as 52000-072-04, which is what is printed on the packaging and shown on DailyMed. Insurance claims use a fixed 11-digit 5-4-2 format, so the short segment is padded with a leading zero: 52000-0072-04, written without dashes as 52000007204. The Identity section at the top of this page lists every form of this code.
What do the three segments of this NDC mean?
In 52000-0072-04, the first segment (52000) is the labeler code FDA assigned to Universal Distribution Centre LLC; the middle segment (0072) identifies this specific product — its ingredient, strength, and dosage form; and the last segment (04) identifies this exact package size and type. Together they name one specific package of one specific product.
Is this package still being marketed?
Yes, per the latest FDA NDC Directory data on this page: this package is listed as actively marketed, with no marketing end date reported by Universal Distribution Centre LLC. Listing status can change — the directory data on this page refreshes weekly.
Does this product come in other package sizes?
Yes — the FDA directory lists 1 other package presentation of this same product, including 1 tube (52000-0072-02). Each has its own NDC and its own page — see the package list near the top of this page.
Who lists this product with the FDA?
Universal Distribution Centre LLC is the labeler of record for this NDC — the company under whose FDA-assigned code the package is listed. The labeler may be the manufacturer itself or a distributor marketing the product under its own code.
Do I need a prescription for this product?
This NDC is listed with FDA as an over-the-counter product, so it does not require a prescription. Follow the package directions, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure whether it is right for you.
This page identifies an FDA-listed package (the NDC) and reports public regulatory and pricing data about the listing. It is reference information, not a medical recommendation — talk to your pharmacist or prescriber about your own medication.
Where does this data come from?
Listing facts (marketing category, packager status, marketing dates) from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory; label availability from DailyMed; pricing coverage from CMS NADAC; equivalence scope from the FDA Orange Book.
📄 FDA label — Drug Facts FDA SPL
The complete FDA label for this product — the official Drug Facts labeling, verbatim, section by section. Jump with a chip, search within the label, or expand everything.
🎯 Indications and Usage
⏱️ Dosage and Administration
⚠️ Warnings
📦 Storage and Handling
🧪 Active Ingredient
🧪 Inactive Ingredients
🎯 Purpose
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
Uses temporarily relieves the minor aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with: simple backache arthritis strains bruises sprains
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
Directions adults and children 12 years of age and older: apply to affected area not more than 3 to 4 times daily children under 12 years of age: ask a doctor
⚠️ Warnings ▾
Warnings For external use only. Do not use on wounds or damaged skin with a heating pad on a child under 12 years of age with arthritis-like conditions Ask a doctor before use if you have redness over the affected area When using this product avoid contact with eyes or mucous membranes do not bandage tightly Stop use and ask a doctor if condition worsens or symptoms persist for more than 7 days symptoms clear up and occur again within a few days excessive skin irritation occurs Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
📦 Storage and Handling ▾
Other information store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F)
🧪 Active Ingredient ▾
Active ingredient Menthol 2.5%
🧪 Inactive Ingredients ▾
Inactive ingredients camphor, carbomer, DMDM hydantoin, isoceteth-20, isopropyl alcohol, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, sodium hydroxide, water
🎯 Purpose ▾
Purpose Topical analgesic
No label section mentions that — try another word, or open the full label on DailyMed below.
Source: FDA Structured Product Labeling, mirrored from DailyMed / openFDA.
Prefer the government’s original formatting? View this label on DailyMed ↗
For educational and professional reference only — not medical advice. Pricing reflects published
NADAC and CMS ASP (free public data) and may differ from your acquisition cost; always verify before billing or dispensing.