Capsaicin topical for Osteoarthritis User Reviews

• Mkbag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2014

Zostrix (capsaicin) "I applied two doses the first day I got it, to my thumbs, about eight hours apart. Yes, it's true that it's easy to get in your eyes, nose or mouth, and it burns. Even after a shower, I could still feel it on my skin. I expected to have to reapply it each day. But here's the funny part: The pain in my hands is nowhere near as intense as it was, even two days after that initial application. Why? It's welcomed, but kinda weird."

• Anonymous
• July 24, 2010

"I'm 61, female, and have had arthritis in my hands, knees and feet over the past ten years. Since using capsaicin over the last two years I've found tremendous relief. It burned when I first started using it, but the burning "wore off" after a week, and I find it totally painless to use. I apply it in the morning as well as in the evening. I learned to NOT use my fingers to apply it. Instead, I use the topside of my thumbs, between the first and second joints from the tip of the thumb. That way, I don't accidentally get capsaicin in my eyes (especially when applying my contact lenses an hour later!). I highly recommend capsaicin and suggest sticking with it, even if at first it burns. It's well worth trying."

• BIG...
• July 18, 2016

"I have put a '5' because I have only been using it for a few days and according to the label it usually takes weeks to work. I would say a couple of things to the other people posting on here. 1. If you think the burning pain (which is definitely there) is unbearable then I can reassure you that your joint pain isn't that bad because comparatively the burning is absolutely nothing compared to the joint pain. I have seen people put comment's like "the worst experience of my life" - You have a pretty good pain free life then. 2. You have to use regularly or it WONT WORK. if you don't use it 3-5 times per day it will just give you local cutaneous burning and will not go through your skin and start helping the desensitising of your nerves."

• Mende...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 5, 2016

"Probably best to do a small patch test before you use this product. Also, different Capsaicin preparations are more potent than others. I have bursitus in my shoulder and it is very painful particularly when I sleep wrong on my shoulder. Capsaicin is the only relief I get. Now able to sleep through the night, yes, it burns, that's the point, it exhausts the pain receptors in the area. Best product but you have to expect to burn, that's what it does, that's how it works."

• lifel...
• November 8, 2011

"I'm a 57 year old female with moderate - severe osteoarthritis of the hip and back. I have been using Capsaicin gel for 2 weeks and the pain has subsided tremendously. Experienced burning sensation the first day only. It has given me back parts of my reason for living."

• music...
• July 19, 2010

Capzasin-HP (capsaicin) "I prefer the initial pain of application than the pain in my spine, hip, and legs. Be careful going out in the sun, even the day after application some residual effects will be felt. Wear latex or plastic gloves when applying and wash your hands after applying. If you touch a part of your body that has capzasin on it, be sure to rewash your hands and DO NOT touch your eyes without washing your hands!"

• Gracie
• July 19, 2016

"I used capsaicin for relief of neck pain (eventually resolved by surgery) & now for very painful arthritic knees. It was very effective for the neck pain AFTER i slowly built up to effective dose. Currently trying to reach therapeutic level for knees -- slow going due to hot weather & sweating. Capsaicin can cause very bad burning pain if it gets wet during bathing or sweating before one has built tolerance. In fact, i swore off it twice due to agonizing burning before learning to manage the early months of use much more carefully & start low & slow (as I'm doing now with knees). However it's a great pain treatment once you learn to use it carefully & build tolerance. Wash hands twice or use gloves to avoid possible eye contact!"

• Sadie...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 10, 2015

Capzasin-HP (capsaicin) "When I lay in bed with osteoarthritis pain and nerve pain...this tends to give a warming sensation to a bit burning which takes my mind off the nerve pain and after a bit (and with my pain meds) I can fall asleep. If you like hot showers in the morning it may warm up a bit while in the hot shower. I wont live without it. I only use it at bed time and when the pain is to great to fall asleep."

• mimi
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2019

Sloan's Liniment (capsaicin) "We purchased this product in Spain. Where can I purchase it in the UK. After suffering pain in my hands and knees it is good to find something that gives relief. I have spent a lot on ointments to no avail until I used Sloan cream which is produced in Tenerife."

• Bobby...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2018

"Was prescribed this as cannot take anti inflammatories due to heart condition, yes it burns but the relief it gives is unbelievable ! I was warned by the Doc that it contained some sort of chilli so not to apply without rubber gloves and to avoid any contact with eyes mouth etc, it works for me anyway !"

• Melanie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2021

Capzasin-HP (capsaicin) "All 10 of my toes have felt broken x 1 month. They are not broken but I have had osteoarthritis for many years. My pain is so bad that I'm on a medrol dose pack. Last night around 9pm I put gloves on and massaged Capzasin-HP onto each toe. I put on loose socks and eventually went to bed around 1130pm. I just woke up at 1:25am screaming and crying from the severe burning. I am a retired ER RN but had zero knowledge of this. I quickly googled how to neutralize and quickly dumped a brand new large vanilla yogurt on my toes and after a good soak and rinse got back in bed. Now, 20 min. later, I am burning again severely. I called Sanofi Medical complaint line and they're closed and no room for a message. I am so annoyed."

• Never...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2019

"My Dr suggested this and I will never use it again. I put it on around noon time. It’s now 11 pm and after 2 washes still burning like crazy. My toes are killing me. I would not suggest this stuff. I hope I can sleep."

• Skizz...
• April 30, 2018

"I have had problems with a knee that I injured whilst in the Navy 30 some years ago. For about 7 years, I have had to walk carefully as my knee would give out and I would sometimes, even fall. My knee was almost always grossly swollen. Since using this cream, (4 times daily) my knee is still swollen slightly, but I can now walk anywhere and not worry about falling. My knee has not "given out" in close to a year. I have been walking loads and due to this new lease on life, I feel great. I, personally have had no issue due to burning sensation with this cream but, I would suggest that you test a small area first. As a disclaimer, there has been one other change in my life and that is diet. My family and I have been eating super hot foods (mainly Thai influenced) for the last year as well. So I tend to get loads of Capsaicin from my diet as well. With that being said, I stand behind Zacin one hundred percent."

• Kat
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 28, 2019

"I used this capsaicin topical cream for severe neck and shoulder pain due to cervical spondylosis and it worked wonderfully. There is a burning sensation when first applied and for a while after that, but it truly helps. I use a small amount in the morning and a larger amount in the evening. This and gabapentin are the only things that have made my neck pain tolerable."

• Lilsly
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2017

"I'm not sure it helped at all but when I woke up in the middle of the night sweating, the burning sensation it caused was intense! Very painful. An ice pack helped but I'm afraid to use again after this."

• EUGENE
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2018

"Have arthritis in both feet and applied capsaicin cream this morning, my feet are now worse than ever, I appreciate burning sensation due to application but it's like someone had a blowtorch on my feet, I'm afraid I'd rather suffer the pain of arthritis than use this product. I'm in more pain now with burning, sorry but not for me, my feet are on fire so how does that substitute arthritic pain, NOT GOOD PAIN KILLER MORE OF A PAIN MAKER"

• Fkano
• July 12, 2016

Capzasin-P (capsaicin) "I have arthritis in my knee, decided to try Capzasin, used a very small amount, It literally set me on "fire" I immediately jumped in the tub and drenched with cold water, that didn't even stop the burning, it lasted for hours, thought I was gonna have to go to the ER!!!"

• ily
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2018

"I have a bad knee that has been burning for a couple of days. I decided to try this and woke up 2 hours later, with a burning sensation. This sensation was so bad, I had to wake up, and try and wash that area. Even after washing the area, the burning sensation continued. I would not recommend this to anyone."

• MyAng...
• October 7, 2017

"I recommend this product if you have pain. I would like to say that this is the best of two evils, because it burns at the start when you first start to use it. It is really important to read the instructions to use it properly. But nice to relocate the pain a little. For my part, the product works very well. However, if you do not have major pain, the product will be worse for you. Anyway, a great product to measure your pain level "

• Amanda...
• September 16, 2017

"If I could post a picture of what this cream did to me! Picture the worst burning EVER! It took several wipes and a shower to get it off my back and it still had bad pain from middle to the tailbone area which was red. I was in SO much pain from this medicine it felt like my skin was on fire. I tried putting lidocaine spray on it and the the spray just melted onto my skin"

• Zostrix...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2022

Zostrix (capsaicin) "Started using it for my knees. Use gloves when you put it on. I did not feel a thing (No Burning or stinging) when I started using it. Then I put my knee brace on and my knees started heating up. Felt great. Use very little. Expensive $25 for a tube. It is worth it."

• Cathe...
• March 30, 2018

"Put THIS on and oh my goodness it burned my skin. I tried to wash it off and it burned worse... I kid you not! Nine hours AFTER I had applied it I was laying in bed on my Husband's shoulder and where my elbow was JUST touching my Husband made his skin begin to burn... Nine hours LATER!!! Sheesh! BRUTAL!!!"

• Anonymous
• March 26, 2023

Capzasin-HP (capsaicin) "Capzasin-HP is a wonderful pain reliever. With a history of inflaming joint pain, this product assists me with coping when I experience pain beyond what my body can handle. The warmth it provides lasts for hours into days. I only use this product when the pain interferes with daily activities. As with any product, read the directions carefully. I always apply using a disposable non-latex glove."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2022

"The first day I applied it once - to my hips and knees. After 20 minutes it started to work but only in my knees. The warm burning pain was lovely and masked the knee pain which was great. If you feel it starting to feel less effective I found it works activated by heat as I had my fan heater on and it started to burn nicely again. The day after , I applied it once again around midday. Nothing happened. I felt no burn no relief. Until I went to the steam room and sauna. DO NOT DO THIS as I found out it’s the most painful experience I’ve had due to a cream. After 10 minutes my knees and hips were on fire !! It felt like my skin was going to burst into blisters and bubble over. I quickly jumped in the cold showers but it was no relief. Obviously I left the sauna but I was left with intense pain and red inflamed skin. I was quite worried but all is ok the next day."

• Ran
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2015

Zostrix (capsaicin) "Works best after a few doses."