Preparing for Treatment
Qutenza® is designed to deliver medicine into the skin, right to the nerves that cause pain after shingles. Your doctor or healthcare professional will apply Qutenza® directly on your skin where you are experiencing pain. Your Pain Profile Tool can help you map your pain for your doctor prior to your appointment.
Before your appointment
On the day of your appointment, be sure to wear loose-fitting clothing. Also, read about considerations for driving after the treatment.
Qutenza® treatment
It's important that you know what to expect on the day of treatment.
Your doctor or healthcare professional will identify and mark the painful areas on your skin.
A numbing gel or cream will be applied to the painful area and left on long enough to reduce discomfort associated with the Qutenza® patch application. The gel or cream is removed prior to applying Qutenza®.
The Qutenza® patch or patches (up to 4) can be cut to the shape of the painful area and applied on your skin for 1 hour. Your skin may become red or you may feel a burning sensation during this time. Your doctor or healthcare professional may manage pain during the treatment with a cold pack or may provide pain medicines, if required.
After Qutenza® is removed, the treatment area is cleaned with a special Cleansing Gel.
Lastly, the Cleansing Gel is removed and the area is gently washed with mild soap and water, then dried.
Please rollover each step to view details of the application process.
What to expect during the treatment
Some pain during the treatment is common, due to the pure, concentrated, synthetic capsaicin in Qutenza®. So it's important that you tell your doctor or healthcare professional how you are feeling during the application process. Don't just "tough it out"—tell them about your pain. They can help reduce your discomfort.
Also, because the pain may increase some people's blood pressure, your doctor or healthcare professional will measure your blood pressure during your treatment.
To make you more comfortable during application
A topical numbing cream is applied to the site of pain prior to applying Qutenza® to reduce treatment-related discomfort associated with the Qutenza® application. Your doctor or healthcare professional may use cold packs or pain medicine to reduce treatment-related discomfort.
After the treatment
Qutenza® is unlikely to have an effect on your ability to drive. However, some pain-reducing medicines may be used during and after your treatment. These may influence your ability to drive or use machinery on the days they are taken. Talk to your doctor before your appointment about whether or not you should have someone to drive you home after the treatment.
For a few days after your treatment, the treated area may be sensitive to heat, so avoid activities such as hot showers or baths, direct sunlight, and exercising.
Click here to find a physician who offers Qutenza®.
Click the link below to learn about reimbursement support:
Learn how Qutenza® may help you
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. Q2010032-14 110453
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