A Phase 1/2 interventional study of capsaicin and Placebo in Interstitial Cystitis and Vulvar Diseases, sponsored by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-05-04.
Sponsored by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment
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.
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.
236 studies on the registry are indexed under Cystitis, Interstitial; 35 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 139 is above the median of 51 across 158 interventional studies indexed under Cystitis, Interstitial.
Browse Cystitis, Interstitial studies →National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is the lead sponsor of 538 studies on the registry; 55 are open to participants now.
Of its 80 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 51 (64%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
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
Drug: capsaicin
Drug: Placebo
Ran from Jun 1995 to primary completion in Aug 2007, 146 months.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2008. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Studies of the drug tested here: Capsaicin
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) →