What Is The Best Medication For Shingles

The doctor has prescribed gabapentin 600mg 3xdaily and acyclovir 800mg 5xdaily.

What is the best medication for shingles.

Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles causes a painful rash that can be accompanied by fever fatigue and sensitivity to light. What everyone should know about shingles vaccine shingrix shingles vaccination is the only way to protect against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia phn the most common complication from shingles. It presented in the middle right side of her stomach.

If you think you have shingles contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible to discuss treatment. Covering the rash with clothing or a non adherent non stick dressing to reduce the risk of other people becoming infected with chickenpox. Below is a list of common medications used to treat or reduce the symptoms of shingles. Asked 24 apr 2010 by jtomrai1 updated 14 february 2012 topics herpes zoster.

Herpes zoster also called shingles is an infection caused by a herpesvirus varicella zoster virus herpes zoster results from activation of the virus which in many instances has remained latent for years following a primary chickenpox infection. What is the best medication for pain relief of shingles. Cdc recommends that healthy adults 50 years and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine called shingrix recombinant zoster vaccine separated by 2 to 6 months to prevent shingles and the. Most cases of shingles last around two to four weeks.

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Shingles generally lasts between two and six weeks. Medications that contain narcotics such as codeine. The pain is relentless and nothing seems to be helping.

While antiviral medication is an effective treatment for shingles it s not the only option. Follow the links to read common uses side effects dosage details and read user reviews for the drugs. Pain medicine either over the counter or a prescription from your doctor may help relieve the pain caused by shingles. Wet compresses calamine lotion and colloidal oatmeal baths a lukewarm bath mixed with ground up oatmeal may help.

Although shingles can occur anywhere on your body it most often appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or the right side of your torso. Although there s no cure for shingles treatment is available to relieve the symptoms until the condition resolves. Seek early treatment mayo clinic health letter june 2002. An injection including corticosteroids and local anesthetics.

Most people get shingles only once but it is possible to get it two or more times.