II. Indications
- Peripheral Neuropathy (e.g. Postherpetic Neuralgia, Diabetic Neuropathy)
- Muscle pain or Joint Pain
- Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (off label)
III. Mechanism
- Capsaicin is derived from chili peppers (genus Capsicum) such as jalapeno peppers
- Capsaicin is a Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) Agonist
- TRPV1 activates cation channels on pain nerve fibers (nociceptive fibers)
- Nociceptive nerves depolarize, transmitting pain signal to the spinal cord
- Capsaicin depletes Substance P from pain fibers, desensitizing nerves and preventing pain transmission
- Requires frequent and repeat applications for effect
- Inconsistent use is not effective
IV. Dose: Capsaicin Cream (OTC)
- Neuropathic pain
- Apply Capsaicin cream as a thin film (0.025% to 0.075%) to affected area 3-4 times daily
-
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (off label)
- Apply Capsaicin cream as a thin film (0.075%) to 15 x 25 cm periumbilical area every 4 hours until symptoms resolve
V. Dose: Capsaicin Patch (high dose - 8%)
- Applied in office
- Pre-treat area by applying 4% Lidocaine cream for 60 minutes
- Check area for Anesthesia following application
- Apply Capsaicin 8% cream with gloves and leave on for 60 minutes
- Wash off after 1 hour
VI. Adverse effects
VII. Precautions
- Wash hands thoroughly after Capsaicin application
VIII. Resources
- Capsaicin (PubChem)
IX. References
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
| capsaicin (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing) | ||
| CAPSAICIN 0.025% CREAM | Generic OTC | $0.08 per gram |
| CAPSAICIN 0.075% CREAM | Generic OTC | $0.08 per gram |
| CAPSAICIN 0.1% CREAM | Generic OTC | $0.18 per gram |