BMJ  2004;328 (24 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7446.0-c

Topical capsaicin may be a useful adjunct in chronic pain...

Capsaicin is better than placebo for treating neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain. Analysing data from nine trials including more than 1000 patients, Mason and colleagues (p 991) found that the number needed to treat for patients with neuropathic pain was six for benefit eight weeks after treatment with capsaicin, and eight for patients with musculoskeletal pain after four weeks of treatment. A third of treated patients experienced local adverse effects. The authors conclude that, although topical capsaicin has moderate to poor efficacy, it may be useful for a small number of patients who are unresponsive to, or intolerant of, other treatment.

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Relevant Article

Systematic review of topical capsaicin for the treatment of chronic pain

Lorna Mason, R Andrew Moore, Sheena Derry, Jayne E Edwards, and Henry J McQuay
BMJ 2004 328: 991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]