Capsaicin used in Treatment of Post-Herpetic Neuralgia Disease

Postherpetic neuralgia has been variably Defined but is generally understood to  pain that persists For longer than a few months after an attack of herpes Zoster. Pain persists for years in approximately 10 % of Those afflicted with acute herpes zoster. The likelihood of Postherpetic neuralgia increases with older age, severity Of the zoster, trigeminal location, and other factors. Postherpetic neuralgia is a neuropathic pain and treatment Usually involves sequential trials of topical and systemic Drugs; a variety of other therapies may be considered in Refractory cases. A new topical capsaicin 8 % patch has Been approved for this indication based on the positive Studies in patients with non-trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia. Experience with the use of the capsaicin 8 % patch For trigeminal distribution neuralgia is lacking. We report a Case of trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia which was safely and effectively treated with capsaicin 8 % patch