High-Dose 8% Capsaicin Patch in Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. A Systematic Review

This is a review of the evidence from studies of the efficacy and tolerability of topically applied and high-concentration (8%) capsaicin in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. For this review, we searched EMBASE and MEDLINE to June 20, 2020. The terms used in the search included capsaicin, capsaicin 8% patch, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and cancer. A total of 98 studies were obtained, but only five were selected for the final analysis, with a total of 95 patients included. Three of the studies are prospective and two retrospective, including less than 30 patients per study. Capsaicin 8% patch provides significant pain relief in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in all of them. However, the small number of studies (and patients) evaluated require caution with these results. Additional clinical trials are required to establish the definitive role of the capsaicin patch in the future.