Qutenza (capsaicin) is a prescription drug approved to treat nerve pain caused by shingles or diabetes. Qutenza comes as a skin patch.

Specifically, Qutenza is used in adults to treat:

To learn more about the drug’s uses, see the “Uses for Qutenza” section.

Qutenza basics

Qutenza contains the active ingredient capsaicin.

Qutenza is a brand-name medication. A generic version of the drug isn’t currently available.

Like most drugs, Qutenza may cause mild to serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the more common side effects Qutenza may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Qutenza. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect during your Qutenza treatment and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Qutenza can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Qutenza’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Qutenza that have been reported include:

  • mild application site reactions where Qutenza patches are placed, such as:
    • pain
    • skin discoloration
    • itching
    • swelling
    • dry skin
    • numbness or tingling
    • blisters or papules
  • nausea and vomiting
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • short-term increase in blood pressure after Qutenza is applied
  • skin picking

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Qutenza can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Qutenza, call your doctor right away. If you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Qutenza that have been reported include:

  • severe irritation, such as to the eyes, respiratory tract, or skin, due to unintended exposure to Qutenza
  • serious application site reactions where Qutenza is applied, including:
Allergic reaction

For some people, Qutenza can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Qutenza treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Qutenza, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Qutenza is used to treat the following conditions in adults:

Qutenza works to treat nerve pain by desensitizing (making less sensitive) and decreasing the number of pain receptors in the skin and on nerve endings. Specifically, Qutenza activates a certain receptor that’s part of a nerve pathway responsible for sending pain signals to your brain.

Although this activation can cause an initial increase in pain, it also causes a gradual decrease in the receptor’s pain-sensing cells. This can result in pain relief that lasts for several months. But it may return as the receptor’s cells regenerate.

Qutenza for postherpetic neuralgia caused by shingles

Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It causes a burning, painful skin rash. Postherpetic neuralgia is a possible complication of shingles. It leads to nerve pain in areas affected by the virus that continues even after the shingles rash has healed. Symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia include:

  • burning skin sensation from any amount of pressure
  • severe pain in the areas where the shingles rash occurred that continues beyond 3 months after the rash clears
  • skin that’s sensitive to temperature changes or touch

Qutenza for diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is a possible complication of diabetes. Long-term high blood sugar can lead to nerve damage, including in the feet. Symptoms of diabetic nerve pain in the feet include pain, numbness or tingling, or weakness in your feet.

The Qutenza dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on the condition you’re using Qutenza to treat.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Form and strength

Qutenza comes as a topical skin patch in one strength: 8% capsaicin, with each patch containing a total of 179 milligrams (mg) of capsaicin.

Your doctor or another healthcare professional will apply Qutenza to your skin at a clinic or your doctor’s office. They’ll also remove the patch and clean the area of skin where Qutenza was applied. Depending on the size of the treatment area, you may have more than one patch applied during a session.

To help prevent unintended exposure to Qutenza, you should not touch or handle Qutenza patches yourself. You should also avoid touching the areas of your skin where Qutenza patches are applied.

If you’re using Qutenza to treat diabetic nerve pain in the feet, your doctor should check your feet for any cuts, lesions, or other skin damage before each treatment. This is to ensure it’s safe to apply Qutenza.

Recommended dosages

Your doctor will prescribe the dosage of Qutenza that’s right for you. Keep reading to learn more.

Dosage for nerve pain caused by shingles

For nerve pain caused by shingles, your doctor will likely prescribe up to 4 Qutenza patches applied for a 60-minute period to the areas of your body affected by nerve pain. This treatment may be repeated as needed every 3 months if your nerve pain returns.

Dosage for diabetic nerve pain in the feet

For diabetic nerve pain in the feet, your doctor will likely prescribe up to 4 Qutenza patches applied to your feet for a 30-minute period. This treatment may be repeated as needed every 3 months if your nerve pain returns.

About using Qutenza

The following are some common questions about using Qutenza.

  • What if I miss a dose of Qutenza? If you miss an appointment to receive a Qutenza treatment, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule.
  • Will I need to use Qutenza long term? It’s possible. Qutenza treatments can be repeated every 3 months as necessary. Whether you use Qutenza long term may depend on how well Qutenza works to treat your nerve pain and how long the pain relief lasts.
  • How long does Qutenza take to work? Based on studies of Qutenza, you may feel a decrease in nerve pain as soon as the first week after treatment. But it may take up to 8 weeks before you feel Qutenza’s full effects.

Qutenza is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, foods, or alcohol. The manufacturer of Qutenza didn’t look at interactions in studies of the drug.

Before starting Qutenza treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions that may be discovered later.

If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Qutenza. What you’ll pay for Qutenza may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called My Qutenza Connect may also be available.

The following is important information to consider and discuss with your doctor or pharmacist before using Qutenza.

Pregnancy and Qutenza

Qutenza may be safe to use during pregnancy. Most of the drug isn’t absorbed by your body, and it’s not expected to affect a pregnancy. However, you and your doctor should discuss your specific situation.

Qutenza and breastfeeding

In general, Qutenza may be safe to use while breastfeeding. Most of the drug isn’t absorbed by your body, and the drug isn’t expected to pass into breast milk. However, you should still talk with your doctor if you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so.

Before using Qutenza, discuss your health history with your doctor. Qutenza may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Qutenza, see the “Side effects of Qutenza” section.

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Qutenza, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.

The following drugs are similar to Qutenza for treating postherpetic neuralgia:

The following drugs are similar to Qutenza for treating diabetic neuropathy:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.