Topical Capsaicin Versus Diclofenac for Chronic Temporomandibular Joint-Related Pain

May 14, 2026 updated by: Yesim Eren, Istanbul University

Topical Capsaicin Versus Diclofenac for Chronic Temporomandibular Joint-Related Pain: A Randomized, Prospective, Single-Blind Clinical Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness and safety of topical capsaicin cream and topical diclofenac gel in women with chronic temporomandibular joint-related pain. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Does topical capsaicin reduce pain intensity more effectively than topical diclofenac?
  • Do the treatments improve jaw function, pressure pain threshold, and neuropathic pain symptoms?

Researchers will compare topical capsaicin cream with topical diclofenac gel to evaluate differences in pain relief and functional improvement.

Participants will:

  • Apply the assigned topical medication four times daily for 7 days
  • Attend clinical examinations and pain assessments at baseline, Day 8, and Month 1
  • Complete pain-related questionnaires and functional jaw measurements during follow-up visits

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This randomized prospective single-blind clinical trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical capsaicin cream compared with topical diclofenac diethylammonium gel in female patients with chronic temporomandibular joint-related pain. Fifty women aged between 18 and 65 years diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders were randomly assigned to either the capsaicin group or the diclofenac group.

Participants in the capsaicin group applied 0.075% topical capsaicin cream, while participants in the diclofenac group applied 1% diclofenac diethylammonium gel. Both medications were applied four times daily over the temporomandibular joint lateral pole region for 7 days. Existing occlusal splint therapy was continued throughout the study period.

Clinical evaluations were performed at baseline, Day 8, and Month 1. Outcome measures included pain intensity assessed with a visual analog scale, multidimensional pain assessment using the McGill Pain Questionnaire, neuropathic pain evaluation using the DN4 questionnaire, pressure pain threshold measurements, maximum mouth opening, lateral mandibular movements, clinician global impression of change, and adverse effects.

The study was approved by the Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry Clinical Research Ethics Committee and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

50

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Istanbul
      • Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34093
        • Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female participants aged between 18 and 65 years
  • Diagnosis of temporomandibular disorder (TMD)-related pain
  • Presence of pain for at least 3 months
  • Baseline pain intensity sufficient to require treatment
  • Willingness to comply with study procedures and follow-up visits
  • Signed informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • History of allergy or hypersensitivity to capsaicin or diclofenac
  • Presence of systemic inflammatory or neurological disease
  • Use of systemic analgesics, corticosteroids, or muscle relaxants during the study period
  • Active skin lesions or dermatologic disease in the application area
  • Previous temporomandibular joint surgery
  • Participation in another clinical trial within the last 30 days
  • Inability to comply with study procedures

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Capsaicin Group
Participants received 0.075% topical capsaicin cream applied four times daily over the temporomandibular joint lateral pole region for 7 days.
Drug: Capsaicin Topical Cream
Topical capsaicin cream applied four times daily over the temporomandibular joint region for 7 days.
Other Names:
  • Capsaicin 0.075% Cream
Active Comparator: Diclofenac Group
Participants received 1% diclofenac diethylammonium gel applied four times daily over the temporomandibular joint lateral pole region for 7 days.
Drug: Diclofenac 1% Topical
Topical diclofenac diethylammonium gel applied four times daily over the temporomandibular joint region for 7 days.
Other Names:
  • Diclofenac Diethylammonium 1% Gel

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in pain intensity measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: Baseline, Day 8, and 1 Month
Pain intensity was evaluated using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in patients with temporomandibular disorder-related pain. Changes in VAS scores were compared between the capsaicin and diclofenac
Baseline, Day 8, and 1 Month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pressure Pain Threshold
Time Frame: Baseline, Day 8, and 1 Month
Pressure pain threshold over the temporomandibular joint lateral pole measured using a dolorimeter.
Baseline, Day 8, and 1 Month
Maximum Mouth Opening
Time Frame: Baseline, Day 8, and 1 Month
Maximum interincisal mouth opening measured in millimeters.
Baseline, Day 8, and 1 Month
McGill Pain Questionnaire Scores
Time Frame: Baseline, Day 8, and 1 Month
Pain severity assessed using the McGill Pain Questionnaire.
Baseline, Day 8, and 1 Month
DN4 Neuropathic Pain Scores
Time Frame: Baseline, Day 8, and 1 Month
Neuropathic pain symptoms assessed using the DN4 questionnaire.
Baseline, Day 8, and 1 Month
Lateral Excursion Measurements
Time Frame: Baseline, Day 8, and 1 Month
Right and left mandibular lateral excursion movements measured in millimeters.
Baseline, Day 8, and 1 Month
Clinician Global Impression of Change (CGIC)
Time Frame: Day 8, and 1 Month
Clinical improvement assessed using the Clinician Global Impression of Change scale.
Day 8, and 1 Month

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul University

Collaborators

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 5, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

April 5, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 14, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 25AKD83

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

The decision regarding individual participant data sharing has not yet been finalized.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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