Current medical research and opinion
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Multicenter Study
Treatment of painful radiculopathies with capsaicin 8% cutaneous patch.
The treatment of neuropathic pain due to low-back (lumbosacral) radiculopathies, a common source of neuropathic pain, is challenging and often requires a multimodal therapeutic approach. The capsaicin 8% patch is the first topical analgesic licensed for peripheral neuropathic pain. To evaluate this treatment, a subset of patients with painful radiculopathy (lumbar and cervical, including ventral and dorsal rami) enrolled into the multicenter, non-interventional QUEPP study (Qutenza 2 - safety and effectiveness in peripheral neuropathic pain) was analyzed. ⋯ Effective neuropathic pain relief was observed after patch application within the innervation territories of both dorsal and ventral branches of the spinal nerve. Further controlled randomized trials are indicated.