ClinicalTrials.Veeva

Menu

Phase I/II Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of Capsaicin for Interstitial Cystitis and Vulvar Vestibulitis

National Institutes of Health (NIH) logo

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Status and phase

Completed
Phase 2
Phase 1

Conditions

Interstitial Cystitis
Vulvar Diseases

Treatments

Drug: Placebo
Drug: capsaicin

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other
NIH

Identifiers

NCT00004316
199/11835
R01DK049524 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

OBJECTIVES: I. Estimate the optimal safe dose of intravesical capsaicin in patients with interstitial cystitis.

II. Evaluate the efficacy of 0.025% topical capsaicin in relieving chronic burning pain in patients with vulvar vestibulitis.

III. Evaluate the effect of capsaicin on type C nerve fibers in bladder mucosa and vulvar skin.

IV. Evaluate the effect of C fiber depletion on urinary levels of histamine and prostaglandin.

Full description

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients with interstitial cystitis are randomly assigned to 1 of 3 pain control therapies.

The first group is treated with capsaicin. A second group is given individually titrated doses of capsaicin: the dose is increased as tolerated or until symptomatic response is acceptable. A control group receives a placebo. Therapy for all groups is administered intravesically every week for 5 weeks.

Patients with vulvar vestibulitis are randomly assigned to 1 of 2 pain control therapies. One group applies topical capsaicin cream to the painful area 4 times a day for 6 weeks. The dose is individually titrated if burning discomfort persists and the patient is compliant with the application schedule. The control group applies a placebo.

Patients with vulvar vestibulitis may continue or cross to capsaicin for 6 additional weeks.

Enrollment

139 estimated patients

Sex

Female

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics-- Women with interstitial cystitis by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases criteria Vulvar vestibulitis by International Society for the Study of Vulvar Disease, i.e.: Severe pain on touch or attempted entry of vagina Tenderness to pressure within the vulvar vestibule Vulvar erythema Duration of symptoms at least 6 months Absence of vulvovaginal infection, i.e.: No fungus No trichomonas No chlamydia No gonorrhea No "clue cells" in vaginal discharge

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

Quadruple Blind

139 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Capsaicin
Experimental group
Treatment:
Drug: capsaicin
Placebo
Placebo Comparator group
Treatment:
Drug: Placebo

Trial contacts and locations

1

Loading...

Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

Clinical trials

Find clinical trialsTrials by location
© Copyright 2026 Veeva Systems