[Effective pain relief of post-herpetic neuralgia with capsaicin patch]

Abstract

Topical 8% capsaicin is a recently approved treatment for post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). Capsaicin works by causing extensive depolarization of nociceptive epidermal transient receptor potential cation channel V1-positive C-fibers leading to defunctionalization. In this case story a 51-year-old male patient, who was suffering from severe PHN pain and associated allodynia, experienced drastic pain relief upon treatment with topical 8% capsaicin. Pain associated with the patch application could be successfully alleviated by pretreatment with topical lidocaine/prilocaine 2.5% and/or oral tramadol. Topical 8% capsaicin should be considered as a feasible treatment option for PHN.