Gabapentin and Lyrica are generally considered 'first-line' agents for treating the pain associated with shingles (postherpetic neuralgia). Alternative treatment options include tricyclic antidepressants, lidocaine, anticonvulsants, SNRI antidepressants and tramadol. Only six-percent developed PHN, compared to 26-percent who were not taking gabapentin ahead of time. The bottom line is that gabapentin can help with nerve pain from shingles, and might work well for those who develop post-herpetic neuralgia after the shingles rash disappears. Antivirals alone are usually insufficient to relieve the often debilitating pain of acute herpes zoster. Mild to moderate pain may be controlled with acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti An acute attack of shingles often causes pain. Pain usually ceases when the shingles rash clears up. It may continue after the shingles has resolved and it is then defined as PHN. The condition is common, occurring in half of patients with shingles over the age of 70 and the incidence increases with age1 What are the characteristics of pain in PHN? Background Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a chronic neuropathic pain that results from alterations of the peripheral nervous system in areas affected by the herpes zoster virus. The symptoms include pain, paresthesia, dysesthesia, hyperalgesia, and allodynia. Despite the availability of pharmacological treatments to control these symptoms, no treatments are available to control the underlying Patient global impression of change at endpoint: intent-to-treat population. Adapted from Sang et al. 17 The clinical efficacy seen with gabapentin extended-release parallels that shown in studies using three times daily dosing of gabapentin immediate-release in the 1800–3600 mg total daily dose range. 20, 21 A meta-analysis by Edelsberg et al 22 evaluated data from randomized controlled If acute shingles pain does not respond to the use of analgesics or if they are not tolerated, it is reasonable to add either a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), such as amitriptyline or nortriptyline, or an anticonvulsant, such as gabapentin or pregabalin. 9 Although there has not been extensive study of their use in acute HZ, one systematic When PHN is defined as pain lasting for 3 months, the incidence is 18% in individuals older than 50 years of age and 33% in individuals older than 80 years of age . The development of PHN is associated with increased patient age and severity of acute pain . The diversity of the PHN symptoms (pain, paresthesia, dysesthesia, hyperalgesia, and Gabapentin does not work to treat the virus-causing shingles, but rather it is used to address the pain from nerve damage that can occur in certain individuals at higher risk of developing complications from shingles, termed postherpetic neuralgia. Gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) can be used for treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. Amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Pamelor), and desipramine can be used for pain relief in Gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregalbin (Lyrica) work directly through the nerves to decrease pain. Gabapentin causes much more drowsiness compared to pregalbin. Many of my patients who have difficulty with sleep at night due to the pain of post-herpetic neuralgia do well with Gabapentin. Shingles nerve pain, also known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), is the most common complication associated with shingles. Doctors can prescribe several different medications to help a person Duration of Treatment: Gabapentin is taken for 7 to 14 days for shingles pain. Dosage Guidelines: Initial doses start low, increasing based on tolerance. Consult Healthcare Providers: Always discuss treatment options and adjustments. Pain Management: Gabapentin effectively reduces postherpetic neuralgia pain. Lifestyle Modifications:Lifestyle Most patients with herpes zoster present with a dermatomal vesicular rash and acute neuritis; acute neuritis commonly precedes ("prodromal pain") the rash by one to three days. (See "Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of herpes zoster", section on 'Uncomplicated herpes zoster'.) The patients were 50 years or older (mean age, 64.6 years) and had a self-rated pain level of at least 4 on a 10-point Likert scale, where 0 equals no pain and 10 equals the worst pain imaginable. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug that is used to treat seizures caused by epilepsy and restless leg syndrome (RLS). In addition to partial seizures, it is also used to treat postherpetic neuralgia or pain that persists after an attack of shingles. Gabapentin is classified as a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue. Shingles can cause severe pain, so your health care provider also may prescribe: Capsaicin topical patch (Qutenza) Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline; Numbing agents, such as lidocaine, in the form of a cream, gel, spray or skin patch Gabapentin is used to treat postherpetic neuralgia, a type nerve pain that can occur due to an outbreak of shingles, and restless legs syndrome (RLS), an uncomfortable urge to move your legs around, often at night. Gabapentin has been found to be effective in managing the pain associated with shingles, including the pain caused by postherpetic neuralgia. In addition to providing pain relief, Gabapentin also supports the healing process in individuals with shingles. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of oxycodone and of gabapentin for acute pain in herpes zoster. Pain. 2009. April;142(3):209–17. 10.1016/j.pain.2008.12.022 [Google Scholar] 39. Berry JD, Petersen KL. A single dose of gabapentin reduces acute pain and allodynia in patients with herpes zoster.
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