Trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia responsive to treatment with capsaicin 8 % topical patch: a case report.
Postherpetic neuralgia has been variably defined but is generally understood to be pain that persists for longer than a few months after an attack of herpes zoster. Pain persists for years in approximately 10 % of those afflicted with acute herpes zoster. The likelihood of postherpetic neuralgia increases with older age, severity of the zoster, trigeminal location, and other factors. Postherpetic neuralgia is a neuropathic pain and treatment usually involves sequential trials of topical and systemic drugs; a variety of other therapies may be considered in refractory cases. A new topical capsaicin 8 % patch has been approved for this indication based on the positive studies in patients with non-trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia. Experience with the use of the capsaicin 8 % patch for trigeminal distribution neuralgia is lacking. We report a case of trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia which was safely and effectively treated with capsaicin 8 % patch.
Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Jennifer
J
Sayanlar
Nilufer
N
Guleyupoglu
Russell
R
Portenoy
Sait
S
Ashina
D000287:Administration, Topical; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018689:Sensory System Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D018689:Sensory System Agents; D002211:Capsaicin