The capsaicin 8% patch for peripheral neuropathic pain

• Published in: British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) Vol. 20; no. 15; p. 926
• Main Authors: England, Janice, Wagner, Till, Kern, Kai-Uwe, Roth-Daniek, Andrea, Sell, Angela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 11.08.2011
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Capsaicin - administration & dosage; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Erythema - etiology; Humans; Neuralgia - drug therapy; Pain Measurement; Sensory System Agents - administration & dosage; Tattooing
• ISSN: 0966-0461
• DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2011.20.15.926

Neuropathic pain is thought to affect up to 8% of the adult population in the UK. The condition can severely impact on patients' quality of life and can be difficult to treat. The capsaicin 8% patch has been developed to directly target the source of peripheral neuropathic pain and has been shown to provide pain relief for up to 3 months from a single 30- or 60-minute application. Adherence to the capsaicin 8% patch application procedure is important to achieve effective treatment. The authors are a group of health professionals experienced in using the capsaicin 8% patch. In this article the authors describe the optimal patch application procedure from their real-world clinical experience and provide recommendations on how to optimize the therapeutic benefit of the patch. Other key aspects of the application procedure are also addressed, including the importance of patient management, the ideal treatment setting, the best way to manage application-associated discomfort and post-treatment care. The observations and learning that the authors have gained from their clinical experience with the capsaicin 8% patch will help others to maximize the benefit gained with this novel treatment option.