Improvement in neuropathic pain with Capsaicin 8% patch after spinal cord injury

Summaries 3 min 380

Font Size

Created On: 13/09/2022

A randomized controlled trial was carried out to examine the effect of Capsaicin 8% patch on pain, function, and quality of life in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) focal neuropathic pain.

See All

Key take away

In people with spinal cord injury and refractory neuropathic pain, the use of Capsaicin 8% patch is associated with improvement in pain and mobility.

Background

A randomized controlled trial was carried out to examine the effect of Capsaicin 8% patch on pain, function, and quality of life in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) focal neuropathic pain.

Method

Over the course of two 12-week periods, 11 people with SCI who were experiencing neuropathic pain that was resistant to two oral painkillers either got a Capsaicin 8% patch or a control low dosage Capsaicin 0.025% patch (CON).

At 2-4 week intervals, the World Health Organization quality of life (WHO-QOL), functional status (spinal cord independence measure [SCIM]), and pain (Visual Analogue Scale [VAS], Multidimensional Pain Inventory-spinal cord injury [MPI-SCI]) were assessed.

Result

With remarkable pain reductions of 35% and 29% at weeks two and four, respectively, the Capsaicin 8% patch exhibited a significant impact over CON on MPI-SCI and VAS. On the SCIM mobility subscale, the Capsaicin 8% patch furthermore outperformed CON in terms of the primary therapy impact. With the Capsaicin 8% patch, no improvement in WHO-QOL ratings was noted.

Conclusion

Patients with SCI and refractory neuropathic pain benefit from the application of Capsaicin 8% patch. It is important to conduct larger research to assess the effect of repeat applications on QOL results.