![]() ![]() Many people are left with an itchy area from their shingles, which can be as disabling as chronic pain. This often-disabling pain can last several months to a year. Pain that lingers in the area of a healed shingles rash is called postherpetic neuralgia. Rapid treatment with one of three antiviral drugs, acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), or famciclovir (Famvir), can shorten a shingles attack and reduce the risk of serious damage, such as: ![]() ![]() “But in fact a shingles rash should alert people, especially in middle or old age, to seek immediate medical help,” says Dr. Many people have the mistaken impression that, like poison ivy, shingles is a nuisance rash that fades on its own. However, it is possible to have rashes that are so mild they’re not even noticed. You also may feel sick or fatigued, with a slight fever or headache. Fluid-filled blisters develop, break, and crust over during and a few weeks after an outbreak. Most cases of shingles cause severe pain and itching, and can leave scars. The most common locations are the chest, back, or stomach, or above one eye. The rash often appears on only one side of your body. It then travels along a nerve to trigger a rash in the skin connected to that nerve. When your immunity weakens from normal aging or from illnesses or medications, the virus can re-emerge. After the telltale spots of chickenpox vanish, the virus lies dormant in your nerve cells near the spinal cord and brain. The same varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox also causes shingles. Anne Louise Oaklander, director of the Nerve Unit at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. “In fact, one in three is predicted to get shingles during their lifetime,” says Dr. If you had chickenpox as a kid, there is a good chance you may develop shingles later in life. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed. They don’t act as quickly as other types of pain relievers.Ĭommonly used tricyclic antidepressants to treat postherpetic neuralgia include:Īnticonvulsants are usually prescribed to treat seizures, but doctors can prescribe them to treat postherpetic neuralgia pain as well.ARCHIVED CONTENT: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Tricyclic antidepressants can have side effects, like dry mouth and blurred vision. stronger prescription drugs, such as codeine, hydrocodone, or oxycodoneĭoctors often prescribe tricyclic antidepressants to treat depression, but these medications are also effective in treating pain caused by postherpetic neuralgia.OTC medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil).lidocaine patches, a numbing medication.capsaicin cream, an analgesic extracted from hot chile peppers.They’re available over the counter (OTC) or by prescription.Ĭommonly used analgesics for postherpetic neuralgia include: Pain relievers are also known as analgesics. Pain therapy may include the following treatments. Treatment for postherpetic neuralgia aims to manage and reduce the pain until the condition goes away. Tests are unnecessary in confirming a diagnosis. Most of the time, your doctor is able to make a diagnosis of postherpetic neuralgia based on how long you’ve experienced pain following shingles. How is postherpetic neuralgia diagnosed and treated? ![]()
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