Post-herpetic neuralgia and topical capsaicin

Abstract

In relief after 4 weeks. Seventy-eight percent of the 23 noted at least some improvement in pain. Post-capsaicin burning was a common, untoward effect in most patients and in about one-third was so unbearable that the trial was terminated prematurely. This treatment appears to be a useful modality in PHN, particularly in the elderly in whom oral medications are often poorly tolerated; however, it does require supervision. A double-blind, controlled trial is now necessary. ∗Correspondence to: C. Peter N. Watson, Smythe Pain Clinic, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ont. M5G 2C4, Canada. (Received 17 November 1987; revised 13 January 1988; accepted 24 January 1988.) © Lippincott-Raven Publishers....