Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals Pain-Rx® is a 12-botanical proprietary blend designed as a quick-acting, selective COX-2 inhibiting pain management formula — combining natural analgesic compounds with COX-2 pathway anti-inflammatory ingredients to address joint discomfort, muscle soreness, and everyday aches and pains without the COX-1 suppression that causes the gastric side effects of conventional NSAIDs. The blend draws from botanical ingredients with documented use in Mayan Indian traditional medicine alongside well-researched Western herbal analgesics and anti-inflammatories: Paullinia Tomentosa, Chiococca Alba, Mimosa Pudica, Phellodendron Amurense (the COX-2 inhibiting bark from Hi-Tech's Nexrutine® product), Lactuca Virosa, White Willow Bark (90% extract), Turmeric, Valerian, Boswellia, Naringen, 6,7-Dihydroxybergamottin, and Yerba Mate — all delivered at 600mg total per 2-tablet serving through Explotab™ Technology for fast tablet disintegration and rapid ingredient release. Take 2 tablets up to 3 times daily. Do not exceed 6 tablets per day. 90 tablets — 45 two-tablet servings. Not for pregnant or nursing women. Not for persons under 18. Consult a physician before use if taking prescription medications. California Prop 65 Warning applies.†
Supplement Facts — Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals Pain-Rx® (Per 2 Tablets / 45 Servings)
Pain-Rx® Proprietary Blend with Explotab™ Technology — 600mg
Paullinia Tomentosa Extract (leaves) — Mayan analgesic botanical
Chiococca Alba Extract (leaves) — Mayan anti-inflammatory and analgesic
Mimosa Pudica (whole plant) Extract — analgesic and muscle relaxant properties
Phellodendron Amurense Extract (bark) — COX-2 selective inhibitor (same source as Nexrutine®)
Lactuca Virosa Extract (leaves) — natural sedative and analgesic compound (wild lettuce)
White Willow Bark Extract 90% (bark) — natural salicin source (aspirin precursor)
Turmeric Extract (rhizome) — Curcumin for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant support
Valerian Extract (root) — muscle relaxant and mild anxiolytic for pain-tension reduction
Boswellia Extract (resin/gum) — 5-LOX inhibitor for joint inflammation support
Naringen (fruit) — citrus flavonoid antioxidant and CYP3A4 inhibitor for bioavailability enhancement
6,7-Dihydroxybergamottin (fruit) — potent CYP3A4 inhibitor for ingredient bioavailability amplification
Yerba Mate Extract (leaves) — xanthine alkaloid and antioxidant support
Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Dextrose, Sodium Starch Glycolate (Explotab™), Magnesium Stearate, Stearic Acid, Silica, Carnauba Wax
Delivery: Explotab™ Technology (Sodium Starch Glycolate) — fast tablet disintegration for rapid ingredient release
Individual ingredient doses not disclosed — proprietary blend format
Take 2 tablets up to 3 times daily — with or without food
Do not exceed 6 tablets per day
Quick-acting — provides benefits with first use
Selective COX-2 inhibitor — does not significantly suppress COX-1
90 tablets — 45 two-tablet servings (up to 15-day supply at maximum dosing, 45 days at once-daily 2-tablet serving)
Not for pregnant or nursing women. Not for persons under 18.
Consult a physician before use if taking prescription medications
California Prop 65 Warning applies.
Pain-Rx® vs. Nexrutine® — Different Products, Different Roles
Customers familiar with Hi-Tech's Nexrutine® will notice that Phellodendron Amurense bark — the source of Nexrutine®'s COX-2 inhibiting alkaloids — appears as one ingredient among twelve in Pain-Rx®. The two products serve different purposes in the Hi-Tech joint and pain management lineup. Nexrutine® is a single-ingredient, high-dose (500mg per tablet), Cyclosome-delivered Phellodendron extract specifically optimized for maximum bioavailability of the COX-2 inhibiting fraction — the product for targeted, sustained COX-2 selective joint inflammation support. Pain-Rx® is a multi-botanical acute analgesic formula combining COX-2 inhibition (Phellodendron, Turmeric), natural opioid agonist activity (Lactuca Virosa, Mimosa Pudica), salicylate analgesics (White Willow), 5-LOX inhibition (Boswellia), and bioavailability enhancement (Naringen, 6,7-Dihydroxybergamottin) — a broader multi-mechanism approach optimized for quick-acting pain relief from multiple pathways simultaneously.†
The Twelve Botanicals — What Each One Does
Paullinia Tomentosa — Mayan Analgesic
Paullinia Tomentosa is a vine native to Central and South America with documented use in Mayan traditional medicine as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory. It contains alkaloid compounds with documented central and peripheral analgesic properties. Hi-Tech specifically credits Mayan Indian traditional medicine as the inspiration for the Pain-Rx® formula's botanical selection — Paullinia Tomentosa is the lead botanical reflecting this heritage.†
Chiococca Alba — Mayan Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic
Chiococca Alba (Snowberry or Milkberry) is a shrub native to tropical America with a long history of traditional use in Central American indigenous medicine for rheumatic conditions, inflammation, and pain. Its roots and leaves contain iridoid glycosides and other compounds with documented anti-inflammatory properties. In Mayan medicine it was traditionally used for joint-related conditions — directly relevant to Pain-Rx®'s primary application.†
Mimosa Pudica — Analgesic and Muscle Relaxant
Mimosa Pudica (the "sensitive plant" or "touch-me-not") has documented analgesic and CNS depressant properties in research literature — studies have documented reduction in pain sensitivity comparable to reference analgesics in animal models. Its active compounds include alkaloids and flavonoids with both peripheral analgesic and mild central nervous system sedating properties. The combination of peripheral COX-2 inhibition from Phellodendron alongside Mimosa Pudica's central analgesic contribution is one of the multi-mechanism pain management strategies that distinguishes Pain-Rx® from single-pathway products.†
Phellodendron Amurense — The COX-2 Inhibitor Anchor
The same Phellodendron Amurense bark extract that anchors Nexrutine® appears here as Pain-Rx®'s COX-2 selective inhibitor — bringing its documented 95% COX-2 inhibition profile (with minimal COX-1 impact) to the multi-botanical Pain-Rx® formula. The Berberine and protoberberine alkaloid content drives this selectivity. Within Pain-Rx®'s proprietary blend, the specific Phellodendron dose is not disclosed — but its inclusion as a named ingredient confirms the COX-2 pathway is specifically targeted alongside the other analgesic mechanisms.†
Lactuca Virosa — Wild Lettuce Analgesic
Lactuca Virosa (Wild Lettuce) is one of the most interesting ingredients in the Pain-Rx® formula. Wild lettuce contains lactucopicrin and lactucin — sesquiterpene lactone compounds documented to have analgesic activity via opioid receptor interaction in published research. A study found that lactucin and lactucopicrin produced pain-relieving effects comparable to ibuprofen in animal models while also producing sedation comparable to diazepam at higher doses. Hi-Tech references "natural opioid agonists" as one of Pain-Rx®'s two primary mechanisms — Lactuca Virosa is the primary candidate for this activity, providing endorphin-pathway pain relief alongside the COX-2 pathway anti-inflammatory activity.†
White Willow Bark Extract (90%) — The Original Aspirin
White Willow Bark (Salix alba) is the botanical source from which aspirin was originally derived — its active compound Salicin converts to Salicylic Acid in the body through intestinal bacterial metabolism and hepatic first-pass processing, producing aspirin-like anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects through COX inhibition and other mechanisms. At a 90% extract standardization, the White Willow in Pain-Rx® is a potent standardized salicylate source. White Willow's traditional use for pain and fever spans thousands of years across European and Asian traditional medicine and is supported by clinical research documenting reductions in low back pain and osteoarthritic pain.†
Turmeric Extract — Curcumin Anti-Inflammatory
Turmeric Extract (Curcumin) provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support through NF-κB inhibition, cytokine reduction, and COX-2 inhibitory activity — mechanisms that complement the Phellodendron's direct COX-2 inhibition with broader inflammatory cytokine pathway coverage. Curcumin's documented clinical evidence for joint pain reduction in osteoarthritis makes it a well-supported addition to any multi-botanical joint and pain management formula.†
Valerian Root — Muscle Relaxant and Tension Reduction
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root extract is one of the most studied botanical sedatives and anxiolytics — acting primarily through GABA-A receptor potentiation (similar to benzodiazepines but with substantially milder effects) and serotonin receptor interaction. In a pain management context, Valerian's muscle relaxant and anxiolytic properties address the muscle tension and anxiety that accompany and amplify pain perception — particularly relevant for tension-related headaches, muscle soreness, and the psychological dimension of chronic pain where anxiety and pain mutually reinforce each other.†
Boswellia Extract — 5-LOX Inhibitor for Joint Inflammation
Boswellia Serrata resin (Indian Frankincense) is one of the most clinically studied anti-inflammatory botanicals for joint health. Its primary mechanism — inhibition of 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzyme — is distinct from both COX pathway inhibition and opioid receptor mechanisms, providing a third anti-inflammatory pathway in the Pain-Rx® formula. 5-LOX converts arachidonic acid into leukotrienes — a different class of inflammatory mediators from prostaglandins (which COX produces) that are specifically involved in joint inflammation and inflammatory arthritis pathways. Boswellic acids (particularly AKBA — acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid) have specific documented efficacy for knee osteoarthritis in multiple published clinical trials.†
Naringen and 6,7-Dihydroxybergamottin — The Bioavailability Amplifiers
Naringen (Naringenin, a citrus flavonoid from grapefruit) and 6,7-Dihydroxybergamottin (a furanocumarin from grapefruit) are the bioavailability-enhancing components of the Pain-Rx® formula — the same compounds responsible for the documented "grapefruit effect" on drug absorption. Both compounds inhibit CYP3A4, the primary hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme responsible for first-pass metabolism of approximately 50% of all orally consumed compounds. By inhibiting CYP3A4, Naringen and 6,7-Dihydroxybergamottin reduce the hepatic metabolism of the other Pain-Rx® botanical compounds before they reach systemic circulation — effectively amplifying the bioavailability of the entire formula. This bioavailability enhancement strategy is the alternative to Cyclosome Technology that Hi-Tech employs specifically in Pain-Rx® — using the formula's own ingredients to protect other active compounds from first-pass degradation.†
Yerba Mate Extract — Xanthine Energy and Antioxidant
Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) provides caffeine and related xanthine alkaloids (theophylline, theobromine) alongside chlorogenic acids and other polyphenol antioxidants. The xanthine content contributes mild stimulant and energy-supporting effects — relevant to pain management because caffeine specifically enhances the analgesic efficacy of aspirin and other pain relievers (the mechanism behind over-the-counter combination products like Excedrin that combine aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine). The chlorogenic acids add antioxidant coverage to the formula's anti-inflammatory system.†
Explotab™ Technology — Fast Disintegration for Quick-Acting Delivery
Pain-Rx® uses Explotab™ Technology — Sodium Starch Glycolate, a superdisintegrant that causes tablets to rapidly swell and break apart in aqueous environments — rather than Cyclosome Technology. This is a deliberate formulation choice for a product marketed as "quick-acting" and "provides benefits with the very first use." Explotab™ causes the tablet to disintegrate within minutes of reaching the stomach, releasing all 12 botanical ingredients rapidly for fast absorption. Cyclosome Technology prioritizes bioavailability through lymphatic absorption but takes longer for the initial liposomal complex formation. For Pain-Rx®'s acute pain relief positioning — where the fastest possible onset is the primary goal — Explotab™'s rapid disintegration is the appropriate delivery strategy, complemented by the formula's own CYP3A4 inhibitors (Naringen, 6,7-DHB) to address bioavailability after fast release.†
Who Pain-Rx® Is For
Pain-Rx® is positioned for three primary user profiles. First: active adults and athletes who experience exercise-induced muscle soreness, joint discomfort, and training-related inflammation who want botanical pain management as an alternative or complement to conventional OTC NSAIDs. Second: individuals with chronic low-grade joint and muscle discomfort from occupational physical demands, aging, or degenerative joint changes who want comprehensive multi-mechanism botanical support. Third: users who specifically want a product combining analgesic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms — the addition of Lactuca Virosa's opioid-pathway activity and Valerian's muscle relaxant contribution alongside the COX-2 inhibiting and 5-LOX inhibiting botanicals produces a broader pain management effect than either single-mechanism approach.†
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly does Pain-Rx® work?
Hi-Tech specifically positions Pain-Rx® as "quick-acting" with benefits experienced with the first use. The Explotab™ rapid disintegration technology releases all 12 botanical ingredients rapidly in the stomach for fast absorption. White Willow's salicylate compounds and the caffeine from Yerba Mate absorb quickly. The COX-2 inhibiting alkaloids from Phellodendron and Lactuca Virosa's analgesic compounds also have documented rapid onset compared to the structural joint support compounds that require weeks of use. Most users report noticeable effects within 30-60 minutes of the first dose.†How does Pain-Rx® differ from taking ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen is a non-selective COX inhibitor — it inhibits both COX-1 (gastric protective) and COX-2 (inflammatory). The COX-1 inhibition is responsible for ibuprofen's gastric side effects including ulceration risk with regular use. Pain-Rx® targets COX-2 selectively (through Phellodendron and Turmeric) while largely sparing COX-1, and adds the 5-LOX inhibiting pathway (Boswellia) and opioid-pathway analgesia (Lactuca Virosa, Mimosa Pudica) that ibuprofen does not address. The botanical multi-mechanism approach covers more pain pathways with a more gastric-friendly profile than non-selective NSAIDs.†Why does Pain-Rx® use Explotab™ instead of Cyclosome Technology?
Cyclosome Technology is Hi-Tech's delivery system for maximizing bioavailability of compounds that have poor first-pass survival — it's the right technology for prohormones and compounds with significant hepatic first-pass degradation. Pain-Rx®'s priority is fast onset for acute pain relief rather than extended bioavailability optimization. Explotab™ disintegrates the tablet rapidly for fast ingredient release, while the formula's own CYP3A4 inhibitors (Naringen and 6,7-Dihydroxybergamottin from grapefruit) address first-pass metabolism of the other botanical compounds simultaneously.†Can Pain-Rx® be taken with other medications?
Consult a physician before taking Pain-Rx® with any prescription medication. Pain-Rx® contains CYP3A4 inhibitors (Naringen and 6,7-Dihydroxybergamottin) that can significantly increase the blood levels of approximately 50% of prescription drugs metabolized by this enzyme — including many cardiovascular, psychiatric, and immunosuppressive medications. White Willow's salicylate content also interacts with blood thinners. This is not a product to take alongside prescription medications without physician knowledge and clearance.†
How to Take Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals Pain-Rx®
Take 2 tablets up to 3 times daily. Do not exceed 6 tablets per day. Can be taken with or without food. For acute pain or soreness: take 2 tablets at onset of discomfort and repeat up to 2 more times throughout the day as needed. For ongoing daily support: take 2 tablets twice daily as a consistent protocol. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Not for pregnant or nursing women. Not for persons under 18. Consult a physician before use if taking any prescription medications — Pain-Rx® contains CYP3A4 inhibitors that can affect the metabolism of many prescription drugs. Individuals taking blood thinners should not use without physician clearance — White Willow bark has anticoagulant properties. Store in a cool, dry place. California Prop 65 Warning applies.†
Why Buy at Get Yok'd
Real-time inventory across all five Southern California stores
Available in Burbank, Glendale, Glendale Galleria, Pasadena, and North Hollywood
Authorized Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals retailer — carrying Pain-Rx® alongside Nexrutine® and the full Hi-Tech nutraceutical and joint health lineup
Staff who can help you navigate the Hi-Tech pain and joint management lineup and build the right protocol for your specific needs
One of the best loyalty programs in the supplement industry — earn rewards on every purchase
Who Should Exercise Caution with Pain-Rx®
Not for pregnant or nursing women — multiple botanical compounds in this formula have insufficient safety data for pregnancy
Not for persons under 18 years of age
Individuals taking any prescription medications must consult a physician before use — Pain-Rx® contains potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (Naringen, 6,7-Dihydroxybergamottin) that can significantly elevate blood levels of approximately 50% of prescription drugs metabolized by this enzyme
Individuals taking blood thinners (Warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel) must consult a physician — White Willow bark salicylates have anticoagulant activity that compounds blood-thinning medications
Individuals taking sedatives, sleep medications, or CNS depressants should consult a physician — Valerian and Lactuca Virosa both have CNS sedating properties
Individuals with aspirin sensitivity or salicylate allergy should not use — White Willow Bark is a direct salicylate source
Individuals with ulcers or GI sensitivity should consult a physician before use
Do not exceed 6 tablets per day
Consult a physician before use if having any medical condition
California Prop 65 Warning applies.
Keep out of reach of children.
†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.