How to Treat Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

Herpes zoster (shingles) is a painful rash caused by varicella zoster virus. In most individuals this is a self-limiting condition. However, it can lead to some complications which can be prevented with treatment. Follow these steps to treat Shingles.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Keep the affected areas clean and dry.

2. Treat all patients with Antiviral medications such as Acyclovir. Treatment is most effective when taken within 72 hours of the appearance of shingles. Acyclovir stops the virus from multiplying, speeds the healing of the rash and reduces the duration of pain.

3. Subscribe pain medications such as the combinations of a narcotic and non-narcotic medication.

4. Treat patients who develop neuralgia (severe nerve pain) with low-dose tricyclic antidepressant (amitriptyline), narcotic medications(oxycodone) and an anticonvulsant (gabapentin). Topical Lidocaine (Xylocaine) gel, a numbing medicine, may also be applied directly to the skin.

Tips & Warnings

• A vaccine to prevent herpes zoster is now available in the United States, Europe and Australia.

Resources

• ASKMEDPAL

[soanyway]

on 4/6/2009 Wonderful information for those who suffer from this and I mean Suffer! My friend gets this from time to time. It's awfull! I have recomn'd you. Pay it forward! :-)