• Ganesan Baranidharan, Sangeeta Das, and Arun Bhaskar.
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds Pain and Neuromodulation Centre, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds LS14 6UH, UK.
• Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2013 Sep 1;6(5):287-97.

AbstractIn the European Union, the high-concentration capsaicin patch is licensed for the management of neuropathic pain conditions in nondiabetic patients, including postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and HIV-associated distal sensory polyneuropathy (HIV-DSP). However, in the USA, the Food and Drug Administration approved its use only in PHN patients. Capsaicin is a transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 agonist, which increases the intracellular calcium ion concentration. This triggers calcium-dependent protease enzymes causing cytoskeletal breakdown and leads to the loss of cellular integrity and 'defunctionalization' of nociceptor fibres. Efficacy and therapeutic effect has been shown in several clinical studies of PHN and HIV-DSP. The high-concentration capsaicin patch and its practical application are different from low-concentration creams; one application can help for up to 3 months. The process of setting up of a service to use the capsaicin 8% patch is also discussed.

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