@rwinney The gel is a regular Rx drug. There is a similar one that my husband was prescribed for neck pain caused by arthritis when we lived in Tennessee. It was from a compounding pharmacy which was a new term and new information for me. I had never heard of a compounding pharmacy. My husband says the gel one is better for his hip pain. I realize we aren’t supposed to share Rx’s, but when he fell in January and had a compression fracture he tried mine and was very thankful I had that gel! For me the fact that it is inexpensive and also works makes it a win win! irene5