Your doctor may also take a tissue scraping or culture of the blisters for examination in the laboratory.
What is the best pain medication for shingles.
When the rash goes away the pain usually goes.
These may be applied to the skin like the capsaicin topical patch qutenza or lidocaine cream gel patch or spray.
Shingles causes a painful rash that can be accompanied by fever fatigue and sensitivity to light.
Below is a list of common medications used to treat or reduce the symptoms of shingles.
Learn about treatment options from a pain management specialist.
Shingles is usually diagnosed based on the history of pain on one side of your body along with the telltale rash and blisters.
Asked 24 apr 2010 by jtomrai1 updated 14 february 2012 topics herpes zoster.
While antiviral medication is an effective treatment for shingles it s not the only option.
The pain is relentless and nothing seems to be helping.
Shingles a viral infection of the nerve roots affects 1 million people in the u s each year.
Roughly 30 to 60 of people over age 60 who get shingles go on to develop a chronic pain syndrome called post herpetic neuralgia.
Let your doctor know.
These may also help you stave off postherpetic neuralgia.
Your doctor can suggest over the counter medicines to relieve milder discomfort.
It presented in the middle right side of her stomach.
The doctor has prescribed gabapentin 600mg 3xdaily and acyclovir 800mg 5xdaily.
Shingles itself comes from reactivation of a chickenpox virus varicella zoster.
If you have shingles symptoms get treatment now and you may avoid permanent nerve pain.
Pain medications can also be effective in controlling shingles pain.
The virus travels down nerve fibers to cause a painful skin rash.
What is the best medication for pain relief of shingles.
Some people find that acupuncture and other complementary treatments help with the pain that can linger after shingles.
It is recommended that antiviral drugs be given within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms for the best outcome.