Before Administering Qutenza®, Set Appropriate Patient Expectations
Qutenza® treatment outcomes may be optimized by ensuring appropriate patient expectations. Be sure to discuss and review the Patient's Guide to Qutenza® brochure with your patient.
Ensure that the patient understands the basic steps of the Qutenza® treatment and that some discomfort can be expected. While you can't predict how an individual patient will feel during the treatment, you can reassure patients that you will take steps to ease their discomfort.
- Prior to initiating treatment with Qutenza®, counsel your patient about the following:1
- Exposure of the skin to Qutenza® may result in transient erythema and burning sensation.
- The patient should not touch the patch; if he or she accidentally touches the patch, it may cause burning and/or stinging.
- If irritation of eyes or airways occurs, or if any of the side effects become severe, the patient should notify the doctor immediately.
- If opioids are administered during or after the Qutenza® treatment, inform the patient of the potential for impaired ability to perform potentially hazardous activities such as operating machinery.
Reference:
Qutenza® Prescribing Information.
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Indication: Qutenza® (capsaicin) 8% patch is indicated for the management of neuropathic pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Only physicians or healthcare professionals under the close supervision of a physician are to administer Qutenza®.
Contraindications: None.
Warnings and Precautions:
- Do not use on face or scalp.
- Aerosolization of capsaicin can occur and inhalation may result in coughing or sneezing.
- If skin not intended to be treated comes into contact with Qutenza®, clean area using Cleansing Gel.
- Patients may experience substantial procedural pain. Prepare to treat pain with local cooling (such as a cold pack) and/or appropriate analgesic medication.
- Transient increases in blood pressure may occur during and shortly after the Qutenza® treatment. In clinical trials, blood pressure changes were associated with treatment-related increases in pain. Monitor blood pressure and provide adequate support for treatment-related pain. Patients with unstable or poorly controlled hypertension or a recent history of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events may be at an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular effects. Consider these factors prior to initiating Qutenza® treatment.
Adverse Reactions: In clinical trials, serious adverse reactions included application-associated pain and increase in blood pressure. The most common adverse reactions (≥ 5% and greater than control) were application-site erythema, application-site pain, application-site pruritus, and application-site papules.
For additional information, please click here for full Prescribing Information.
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