Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Treatment of neuropathic pain with the capsaicin 8% patch: is pretreatment with lidocaine necessary?


ABSTRACT: The capsaicin 8% patch can effectively treat neuropathic pain, but application can cause discomfort or a burning sensation. Until March 2013, it was recommended that patients be pretreated with a topical anesthetic, for example lidocaine, before capsaicin patch application. However, speculation existed over the need for pretreatment and its effectiveness in alleviating treatment-associated discomfort. This article compares tolerability to and efficacy of the capsaicin patch in pretreated and non-pretreated patients. All patients received a single capsaicin patch application. Pretreated patients received a lidocaine plaster before and intravenous lidocaine and metamizole infusions during capsaicin patch application. Pain levels, assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), were used to determine tolerability and efficacy. All patients (pretreated n = 32; non-pretreated n = 26) completed 100% of the intended capsaicin patch application duration. At the time of capsaicin patch removal, 69% of pretreated and 88% of non-pretreated patients reported an NRS score increase, which returned to baseline by 6 hours post-treatment. There was no significant difference in mean NRS score between patient groups at any time during or after capsaicin patch treatment. Response was similar between patient groups; capsaicin patch treatment provided rapid and significant pain reductions that were sustained over 12 weeks. The same proportion of pretreated and non-pretreated patients reported willingness to receive retreatment with the capsaicin patch. This analysis shows that the capsaicin 8% patch is generally tolerable, and the small discomfort associated with patch application is short-lived. Lidocaine pretreatment does not have a significant effect on tolerability, efficacy, or patient willingness to receive retreatment.

SUBMITTER: Kern KU 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4282389 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

Treatment of neuropathic pain with the capsaicin 8% patch: is pretreatment with lidocaine necessary?

Kern Kai-Uwe KU   Nowack Walburga W   Poole Chris C  

Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain 20131201 2


The capsaicin 8% patch can effectively treat neuropathic pain, but application can cause discomfort or a burning sensation. Until March 2013, it was recommended that patients be pretreated with a topical anesthetic, for example lidocaine, before capsaicin patch application. However, speculation existed over the need for pretreatment and its effectiveness in alleviating treatment-associated discomfort. This article compares tolerability to and efficacy of the capsaicin patch in pretreated and non  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC4232045 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3255992 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4738436 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC8212319 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5947653 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3273402 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4794144 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC3292968 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5399813 | biostudies-literature