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Shingles


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Medications

Medications can help limit the pain and discomfort caused by shingles, shorten the time you have symptoms, and prevent the spread of the disease. Medications also may reduce your chances of developing shingles complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia or disseminated zoster. Early treatment of shingles is important, because the possible complications can be serious and resistant to treatment. For example, 40% to 50% of people with postherpetic neuralgia do not respond to treatment.6

Medication Choices

Medications to treat shingles when the rash Click here to see an illustration. is present (active stage) may include:

  • Over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen, to help reduce pain.
  • Antiviral medications, to reduce the pain and duration of shingles.
  • Corticosteroids, in combination with antiviral medication, to reduce the pain and duration of shingles.
  • Topical antibiotics, which are applied directly to the skin, to stop infection of the blisters.

Medications to treat postherpetic neuralgia pain may include:

What To Think About

For some people, nonprescription pain relievers (analgesics) are enough to help control pain caused by shingles or postherpetic neuralgia.

A prescription medication called pregabalin (Lyrica) has been approved for the treatment of pain caused by postherpetic neuralgia. In tests, it provided rapid and long-lasting pain relief.



Last Updated: March 21, 2007
Author:
Debby Golonka, MPH
Medical Review:
Wajeeh E. Nasser, MD - Family Medicine

Randall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology


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