What is QUTENZA?
QUTENZA is a different kind of treatment for diabetic nerve pain of the feet. It’s an FDA-approved, noninvasive, prescription-strength topical system applied by your healthcare provider in-office. QUTENZA can be used alone or in combination with other treatments.
While it may look like a patch, QUTENZA is a topical system. It uses unique patented technology, designed to treat nerve pain at the source of pain by delivering medication deeper into the skin.
Key features of QUTENZA
30-minute, noninvasive treatment
Applied in-office by a healthcare provider
Nonaddictive
Not another daily pill
No drug-drug interactions
Well-studied safety profile
About diabetic nerve pain of the feet
Nerve damage can happen over time when your blood sugar is high due to diabetes. These damaged, unhealthy nerves send too many pain signals to your brain, resulting in the pain you feel in your feet.
This can feel like foot numbness or shooting, stabbing, or burning pain. This may affect people in different ways, and it can occur in a very specific part of the foot, or even impact the entire foot.
Diabetes and nerve pain: You’re not alone
About 50% of people with diabetes will develop some type of nerve damage over their lifetime.
Today, approximately 5 million people live with diabetic nerve pain. More than 2.5 million people still live with diabetic nerve pain symptoms even after trying multiple other treatments. QUTENZA may be able to help.
Symptoms of diabetic nerve pain
Symptoms of diabetic nerve pain can be different for everyone and can include:
Burning pain
Shooting or stabbing pain, or a feeling of walking on broken glass
Tingling, foot numbness, or a feeling of pins and needles
Causes of diabetic nerve pain
iabetic nerve pain of the feet is one of the most common long-term effects of diabetes. About 50% of people with diabetes have some form of nerve damage. Risk factors include:
- Having a more advanced age
- Being overweight
- Having high cholesterol
- Smoking
- Consuming alcohol
QUTENZA treatment tips
- Show your healthcare provider where you’re experiencing pain
- Your feet will be washed, dried, and examined to make sure your skin is free from any cuts or open wounds
- If needed, a numbing agent will be applied
- Wear comfortable clothing
- Your blood pressure will be checked
- Bring something to read or do during the application
- Wash your feet at home and put on clean socks
- Avoid hot water, direct sunlight, and vigorous exercise for a few days
- Apply cooling pack or take over-the-counter medication for any discomfort, as needed