Shingles
How is it treated?
By recognizing and controlling the factors that can contribute to a shingles attack - for example, high stress levels or excessive consumption of alcohol - individuals may be able to prevent a recurrence of shingles. And although there is no cure, treatment for shingles can help reduce pain and discomfort and speed healing of the blisters and rash.
Antiviral medications such as acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), and famciclovir (Famvir) offer substantial relief and significantly reduce the duration of symptoms for most affected individuals. Starting an antiviral medication within 72 hours of the first sign of a shingles attack is generally recommended to help speed healing and possibly reduce the risk of developing complications such as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
Pain medications can also offer relief. For mild to moderate pain, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and ketoprofen (Orudis KT) can be effective. For moderate to severe pain, more powerful pain killers may be needed, such as prescription NSAIDs or narcotic analgesics. Corticosteroids (for example, prednisone, methylprednisolone, cortisone, and hydrocortisone) are also sometimes prescribed to reduce the pain, discomfort, inflammation, redness, and itching associated with the rash and blisters.
For postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), medications for nerve pain may be needed. These include anti-seizure drugs (Neurontin, Lyrica) antidepressants (Cymbalta), a lidocaine patch 5 % (Lidoderm), or capsaicin cream (Dolorac, Trixaicin, Zostrix, Zostrix-HP).
For ophthalmic herpes zoster, antivirals are used to fight the varicella zoster virus and prevent it from spreading to a larger area of the face and the eye. Other treatments include pain medicines, corticosteroids, and cool compresses. If you think you might have ophthalmic shingles, it is extremely important that you consult your primary doctor or an ophthalmologist immediately for treatment and advice to prevent permanent eye damage.
For more information on the drugs used to treat shingles and its complications, click on the links below.
Drug classes used to treat Shingles Alkaloid Derivatives Anti-virals Anticonvulsants Corticosteroids Narcotic Analgesics Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Tricyclic Antidepressants
|
How is it treated?
