Has anyone tried Capsaicin (Qutenza) for neuropathy in their feet?

Hi Steve @possiblecidp, I have not tried it before but there is some evidence that the 8% Capsaicin helps with nerve pain. You will notice that we added to your discussion title to better describe the discussion and hopefully bring in more members who have experience with the topical. Here's some information that supports the use of Capsaicin.

"While low-dose capsaicin has not resulted in good efficacy, the larger dose 8% topical capsaicin has had some of the best data currently ..."
-- Capsaicinoids in the treatment of neuropathic pain: a review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3886382/

-- Qutenza (capsaicin) 8% patch onset and duration of response and effects of multiple treatments in neuropathic pain patients: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23765045/

Have you asked your doctor about the treatment?

Hi John,

Wow, thanks for those links. It seems pretty good, with pain reduction up to 5 months… although it sounds like the application might hurt for a bit.

I haven’t asked my doctor about it yet, but those links you sent showed that this been known since 2013… so why didn’t my doctor tell ME about it?

Still, I’ll surely check it.

Thanks again!

Capsaicin should be used in small amounts and not too frequently. Yes, ir helps with pain but if too much is used too often it can cause such extreme burning effects.
I no longer use it.
Hope this information helps.

I was given a prescription for capsicum cream, but it really burned my feet if I got them wet (in the ocean) and/or if in the sun. I also didn’t feel very well when I used it. It might have been something in the cream, as I’m sensitive to many chemicals in creams, etc… or coincidental. Hard to know. I quit using is. However, I have been using a more natural capsicum-based cream that is used for sports injuries/sore muscles, and that seems to have less side-effects and does give some relief to my feet.

I used the cream on my calves and lower thighs as directed, before bed. Horrible burning that woke me up hours later in a sweat. This happened more than once so I stopped using it. Lidocaine cream much better.

I find Lidocaine helps as well. I use an ointment that looks like white petroleum jelly, is 0.5%.

Is the cream you use over the counter or by prescription? If it is different from what I take, could you let me know what brand it is so I can look it up?

I need to apply it to most of foot and toes. I would like to apply it to calves and thigh that cramps and spasms and stings.

Thank you!

Nemo1

Hi!
It is always helpful to find out what others have used and what new possibilities there are.
I recently had injections for my back and hip pain. It helped "some"...but I use Capzasin every morning and night to lessen the pain. It works well, but it is the 0.1%. I feel it all day. I have had nondiabetic Neuropathy for many, many years. I would NEVER use that stuff on my feet! I use a THC creme instead. Yep, we are all different, but be careful using that (especially more potent) creme on your feet. The stuff is powerful....I use disposable gloves ALWAYS to apply!
Just putting my 2$ worth in! Thanks J. Bishop for all your experienced and researched responses! We need this site!

Aspercream with 4% lidocaine. OTC

I use a magnesium cream by Asura that has capsaicin in it. Rub it on feet before going to work. I am on my feet for straight 3-4 hours and have serious pain by the time I head for home. The cream definitely helps but wears off in a few hours. I learned of this product while going to P.T. for the foot pain.

My husband & mother use Volteran cream on theirs. It seems to help a lot