A 30-minute treatment with capsaicin 8% patch significantly reduced average daily pain scores compared to placebo (-27.4% vs -20.9%; P=0.025) in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy.
RCT (n=369)
Double-blind
1:1
Does capsaicin 8% patch improve pain in patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy?
A single 30-minute application of capsaicin 8% patch provides modest but significant improvements in pain and sleep quality for patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Absolute Event Rate: -27.4% vs -20.9%
p-value: p=.025
This 12-week study evaluated the efficacy and safety of capsaicin 8% patch versus placebo patch in painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN). Patients aged 18 years or older with PDPN were randomized (1:1) to one 30-minute treatment (capsaicin 8% patch or placebo patch) to painful areas of the feet. Overall, 369 patients were randomized (capsaicin 8% patch, n = 186; placebo patch, n = 183). Percentage reduction in average daily pain score from baseline to between weeks 2 through 8 (the primary end point) was statistically significant for capsaicin 8% patch versus placebo (-27.4% vs -20.9%; P = .025); improvements in pain were observed from week 2 onward. Versus placebo, patients treated with capsaicin 8% patch had a shorter median time to treatment response (19 vs 72 days) and modest improvements in sleep interference scores from baseline to between weeks 2 through 8 (P = .030) and weeks 2 through 12 (P = .020). Apart from application site reactions, treatment-emergent adverse events were similar between groups. No indications of deterioration in sensory perception of sharp, cold, warm, or vibration stimuli were observed. In patients with PDPN, capsaicin 8% patch treatment provided modest pain relief and sleep quality improvements versus a placebo patch, similar in magnitude to other treatments with known efficacy, but without systemic side effects or sensory deterioration. PERSPECTIVE: To our knowledge, this is the first study of the capsaicin 8% patch versus placebo in patients with PDPN to show that one 30-minute capsaicin treatment provides modest improvements in pain and sleep quality. Results confirm the clinical utility of the capsaicin 8% patch in the diabetic population.
Simpson et al. (Sun,) conducted a rct in Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN) (n=369). Capsaicin 8% patch vs. Placebo patch was evaluated on Percentage reduction in average daily pain score from baseline to between weeks 2 through 8 (p=.025). A 30-minute treatment with capsaicin 8% patch significantly reduced average daily pain scores compared to placebo (-27.4% vs -20.9%; P=0.025) in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy.