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Qutenza dosage: A detailed guide

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Doctors prescribe Qutenza for nerve pain from shingles or diabetes. A healthcare professional gives it once every 3 months.
Medically reviewed by Fallon Mumford, PharmD
Updated on

This article describes Qutenza’s dosages and strength and gives details on how it’s given. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for Qutenza. If you want to know more about Qutenza, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Qutenza is a brand-name medication that comes as a patch. It isn’t available in a generic version. This article describes dosages of Qutenza.

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Form and strength of Qutenza

Qutenza comes as follows:

  • Form: a patch that is applied to the skin
  • Strength: each patch contains 179 milligrams (mg) of capsaicin

Dosage of Qutenza

This article describes the recommended dosages for Qutenza. The drugmaker provides these dosages.

Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs.

Usual recommended dosages of Qutenza in adults

Qutenza is used to treat nerve pain related to shingles. It’s also used to treat nerve pain in the feet of people with diabetes who have a condition called peripheral neuropathy (damage to nerves, usually in the feet and legs).

Usually, doctors give a standard dosage of Qutenza. But they may adjust the frequency between Qutenza doses over time.

The usual recommended dosages of Qutenza in adults are shown in the table below.

Condition/PurposeRecommended doseFrequency
nerve pain from shinglesup to 4 patches for 60 minutesevery 3 months
nerve pain from diabetesup to 4 patches for 30 minutesevery 3 months

Missed dose of Qutenza

If you need help remembering your appointment for your dose of Qutenza, you could try:

  • downloading a reminder app on your phone
  • setting an alarm
  • putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Qutenza and its dosage.

How does the dosage of Qutenza compare with the dosage of Salonpas?

Qutenza dosage is very different from the dosage of Salonpas pain relieving gel-patch with lidocaine. Qutenza is only given by a healthcare professional. It’s usually given once every 3 months. Qutenza contains the drug capsaicin.

Salonpas with lidocaine is an over-the-counter patch that you apply yourself. You can use it 3–4 times per day. It contains the drug lidocaine.

You can learn more about how Qutenza and Salonpas compare by talking with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is Qutenza used long term?

Yes, doctors typically prescribe Qutenza as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely use it long term.

If you have questions about how long you should use Qutenza, talk with your doctor.

How Qutenza is used

Your doctor or another healthcare professional will apply Qutenza.

Qutenza coupon

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What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosages for Qutenza. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • Will you change my Qutenza dosage if my current dosage isn’t working for my condition?
  • Is Qutenza ever applied more often than every 3 months?
  • Do you need to change my dosage of Qutenza if I’m using other drugs with it?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks 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.

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