What it means
A topical pain reliever put on the skin over the painful area. It first causes warmth or burning, then, with regular use, it uses up a chemical (substance P) that nerve endings need to send pain signals, so the area hurts less. It is used for arthritis and muscle pain and for nerve pain such as diabetic neuropathy and the pain that can last after shingles. A high-strength patch (Qutenza) is put on only by a trained clinician.
For the nurse
Teach the client to wear gloves to apply it or wash their hands well afterward, and to keep it away from the eyes, the inside of the nose and mouth, and broken skin. The burning feeling is expected at first and lessens after a week or two of regular use. Do not cover the area with a heating pad or tight bandage.
Remember it
Chili pepper on the skin: it burns first, then the nerves go quiet.
At a glance
| Drug class | topical analgesic |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Zostrix, Capzasin-HP, Qutenza |
| Spanish | capsaicina |
| Also written | Zostrix, Capzasin-HP, Qutenza |
Related terms
analgesic
A drug that relieves pain.