Pharmacological and Parenteral TherapiesQuestion 2306 of 2368
A client asks how a capsaicin cream applied to the skin helps relieve pain. What is the best response?
- It lowers fever and swelling by blocking prostaglandins.
- It constricts blood vessels so less blood reaches the area.
- It blocks the transmission of pain impulses from the skin.
- It acts in the spinal cord to stop release of neurotransmitters.
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Correct answer: It blocks the transmission of pain impulses from the skin.
Capsaicin applied to the skin blocks the transmission of pain impulses. Blocking prostaglandins is how NSAIDs work.
Source: Nursing Fundamentals, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2024), Comfort: Physiology of Pain. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026