How Qutenza® Works
Qutenza® is a prescription treatment that is applied by your doctor or healthcare professional to treat post-shingles pain. After a single, 1-hour application, Qutenza® can provide 3 months of pain relief. Qutenza® is designed to deliver medicine directly into the skin, right to the nerves that cause pain after shingles. During the treatment, your doctor or healthcare professional applies Qutenza® to your skin for 1 hour.
Capsaicin
The medicine in Qutenza® is capsaicin, a substance naturally found in chili peppers that gives them their heat sensation. Qutenza® contains 8% capsaicin.
Qutenza® is the first and only prescription-strength capsaicin product. It is pure, synthetic capsaicin in a novel, localized dermal delivery system for pain relief.
How capsaicin in Qutenza® brings pain relief
Capsaicin provides pain reduction by acting on the damaged nerves in the skin that cause pain after shingles. The effects of capsaicin wear off over time, which may be associated with the return of pain. This is when you can schedule an appointment with your doctor for another Qutenza® treatment.
Click here to learn what happens at your appointment during the treatment.
Click the link below to learn more about Qutenza®:
What to expect at your appointment
Learn about Qutenza® treatment coverage
Start a conversation about Qutenza® with your doctor
Indication
Qutenza® is indicated for the management of neuropathic pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Treatment with Qutenza® must be performed only by a healthcare provider. You should never apply or remove Qutenza® yourself.
Warnings and Precautions:
- Qutenza® is not for use near eyes or mucous membranes. Do not sniff or inhale near the Qutenza® patch as this may cause you to cough or sneeze.
- Do not touch the Qutenza® patch with your hands. If you touch the patch, it may cause burning and stinging; if this occurs, tell your healthcare provider.
- Even though a numbing medicine is used on the skin before applying Qutenza®, some patients may still experience substantial pain during the treatment. Tell your healthcare provider if you are experiencing pain; a cool compress or medicine for the pain can be provided to help lessen your discomfort.
- Qutenza® can cause serious side effects including pain and increases in blood pressure during or right after treatment.
- Your healthcare provider should check your blood pressure during treatment with Qutenza®.
- Patients who have high blood pressure that is not well controlled by medicine, or who have had recent heart problems, stroke, or other vascular problems, may be at increased risk and should discuss with their doctor whether Qutenza® is right for them.
Side Effects:
- In clinical studies, the most common drug-related side effects of Qutenza®, which occurred in 5% or more of patients, included redness, pain, small bumps, and itching. These side effects occurred at the patch application site.
- You should tell your doctor if any side effects bother you or do not go away.
These are not all the side effects of Qutenza®. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Please click here for full Prescribing Information.
©NeurogesX, Inc. 2010. All Rights Reserved. Qutenza® is a registered trademark of NeurogesX, Inc. This Web site is intended for US residents. Q2010032-11 110453
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