Customer Reviews

Capzasin Arthritis Pain Relief, 1 Fluid Ounces (Pack of 2)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I tried the Capzasin liquid because I read the report "Complementary and alternative medicines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia" from the Arthritis Research Campaign. This concluded that Capsaicin was the single most effective alternative medicine treatment for arthritis pain.

This product has me walking again, when the arthritis in my knees was so bad that I could barely stumble from the house to the car. I can truly say that it is nothing short of miraculous. Because it stung a little overnight (see tips below), I discontinued use for a few days. I had forgotten just how much pain I was in before I used Capzasin and it took me a while to figure out that discontinuing its use was why I could not walk properly! Now I am planning trips to the museum and days out - stuff that I would never have planned before using Capzasin. So it really is a miracle pain-reliever for me.

Having tried this for a while, I can give you a few tips:
* The pain relief does not kick in immediately. I used it for a day or two before I noticed that I was walking more easily. By day 4, I was almost pain free. By day 5 I was no longer wearing my knee-braces to work.
* It burns a little when you first apply it, but not badly. Think antiseptic - that's how it feels.
* Wear rubber gloves when applying. Even with the "mess-free" applicator, you need to rub the liquid in. The liquid runs down your hands and seeps into every pore. It will leave your hands burning gently for almost a day. Not painful, but a bit irritating!
* Don't touch your nose or eyes until you have washed your hands thoroughly. You really don't want chili pepper in your eyes ...
* It burns again later when you sweat, even if you applied it hours ago. This can be bad if you have used it a lot (which I did at first). So don't overdo the applications, thinking that you can make it work faster(!). Use it once a day at first.
* Don't give up if the burning sensation comes back late at night. Because it burns when you sweat, it kept me awake for the first couple of nights, but it was *so* worth it! The burning was bad at first, but it wore off after the first 4-5 days; now I hardly notice it.
* It can seep into fabrics and braces if you get hot. I made the mistake of applying this just before putting on my knee-braces at bedtime - don't believe that dry-to-the-touch means that it won't transfer if you sweat! I had to wash the braces before I could wear them again, as they stung really badly when in contact with my skin. But I have not noticed this with my clothes, so I suspect it is just because the knee-braces made me hot.
* Don't breathe in the vapor if you are sensitive to dust, etc. I developed a bad cough for a day or two after inhaling the vapor -- now I just lean well away as I apply it.

In conclusion: I have given a lot of "cons" above, but it is still so worth it for the pain relief - I have my life back!

Also read the excellent advice in Once in a while's review for Capzasin-HP Arthritis Relief Topical Analgesic Cream, .1-Percent Capsaicin, 1.5-Ounce Tubes (Pack of 2). That product is a higher potency gel - the reviewer advised readers to start with a lower potency until you are used to the "burn." I did not realize that this was a High Potency formulation until after I had used it for a couple of weeks. Which may explain the burn-in period ... :-)

I have had chronic lower back pain from arthritis (bulging disks) for over 10 years. When I tried capsaicin last year for the first time I was amazed at how well it works.
I am now able to garden and swim for exercise for the first time in 4+ years. I don't like the cream because even if I wash my hands immediately after applying I still have some mild burning and tingling for most of the day. When I found the liquid that has an applicator I tried that and find that it helps as much as the cream but I no longer have the side effects on my hands.
I, too, have noticed that I can have tingling in the back of my throat if not some respiratory symptoms as described in the most critical review here. However, I have found that it is directly proportional to how much I use. So if I am careful with how much I apply in the a.m. I no longer have those symptoms. Most, if not all, of the topical complementary and alternative liquids, etc, can have systemic side effects similar to capsaicin so this is not an unusual side effect.
If I apply this in the a.m. (which I do) and then go out in the sun during that day my back burns very, very much! (But I don't mean sunburn, I mean the burn feeling.) So I have learned to plan better and not use it in the a.m. if I am going outside. I also don't apply it before bed because it burns too much when I am lying on my back. I also have tried it on my knee (due to arthritis and 2 surgeries) but it burned too much. I suspect I put too much on but since I have Voltaren gel (prescription gel like the anti-inflammatory oral med Voltaren, or diclofenac = generic name) I have no need for capsaicin on my knee.
Not everyone tolerates capsaicin, usually from the burning effect, but it has been a great help in increasing my activity and my quality of life without the systemic side effects of Lortab, aka Vicodin.
There is a prescription strength capsaicin but it is even stronger than what is over the counter so I have opted not to use that since the OTC works so well.

Capsaicin is a great product for some aches and pains. The vast majority of people experience a little burning sensation, mostly on first use. An unfortunate few experience an intense burning sensation, so cannot use the product. Those who can use it have to experiment to determine what aches and pains this topical pain killer will reach in their body. When and where it works, it's great because, unlike most analgesics, side effects are virtually nil. The only problem is misapplication: if you get the stuff on your fingers and then touch a sensitive area, such as your eye, you'll experience several minutes of stinging discomfort. For that reason, these capsaicin applicators are much better than tubes of capsaicin cream because you don't have to apply the product with your fingers.

I have lots of trouble finding this particular roll on Capzasin at the local stores. I'm lucky if I can find 1 box to purchase at a time, and I run thru more than 1 a month. After trying and trying to find it locally I decided to check Amazon.

YAAAAHOOO...I can buy as much of it as I want. Even with shipping (if you can't get it on Amazon Prime) it is cheaper than driving all over the town to different pharmacies, grocery stores, Walmart, etc only to NOT find it or find someone got the last one.

PS they have in packs of 2!!

Tried this as an alternative to more expensive medication for pain. I followed the directions and started slow but I could never get used to it. I had burning and itching at the site and redness. I waited hours after application before taking a bath and it still burned in the bath. Well, I gave it the old college try and turned to drugs instead...(legal)

Didn't find this applicator to be useful. The cream or the sponge applicators work well.
The product itself is great just not in this dispenser.

I purchased 2 of these items at Amazon.com. Because it is shipped so quickly.
I like this product, the liquid is better and stronger than the gel. However I used to be able to get this in a 2 oz size which is much better. The 1 oz size is just not enough. I keep one in my nightstand, one in the bathroom, and one at my desk, I have a very bad knee and use it often. Also keep one in my purse so hopefully when it is acting up, I will have this close by.Hope the Company will consider making a bigger size on this again.

When I first put this on at 5:00 it seemed to help, but then after midnight it was still burning. The next day about 10:00am I went outside with my kids and the sun must have heated it up again and it burned so badly I was in such pain. My husband suggested pouring milk on it which actually helped some. It is still burning but not nearly as bad. I can not wait for this to wear off, I will never ever use it again.

My husband had been using this product for lower back pain. After a month and a half of severe coughing, sneezing, and watering eyes, we finally figured out that this product becomes airborn after it dries on the skin. Everyone in my family was sick from it, and my husband's laundry had to be placed in a plastic bag and kept separate. Our whole apartment became a coughing nightmare. After we figured out that it was the Capzasin, the problem instantly was resolved when he stopped using the product. This product is really a hazard- it should be taken off the market or at the very least reformulated.