title: Capsaicin-based therapies for pain control.
abstract: The TRPV1 receptor is known to play a role in nociceptive transmission in multiple organ systems, usually in response to the pain of inflammation. TRPV1 antagonism has so far shown limited benefit in antinociception. Capsaicin, a TRPV1 agonist, has been shown to induce a refractory period in the nerve terminal expressing TRPV1 and even, in sufficient dosing, to create long-term nerve terminal defunctionalization. This has led to research into topical capsaicin as a treatment for multiple painful conditions. The majority of work has focused on musculoskeletal pain and neuropathic pain and has revealed that although low-dose topical capsaicin has limited effectiveness as an analgesic, high-dose capsaicin, when tolerated, has the potential for long-term analgesia in certain types of neuropathic pain.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy; D059225:Nociception; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C494484:TRPV1 receptor; D002211:Capsaicin