Drugs not used in "shingles"
When you have shingles, you need to actively treat it with antiviral drugs. When the disease progresses to the post-herpetic neuralgia stage, you need to remember that you had shingles before...
Varicella zoster virus causes chickenpox in children, then lies dormant in the nerve root ganglia for decades, when the opportunity arises it will cause shingles (herpes zoster) also known as "shingles". If a serological reaction is done, about 90% of adults have evidence of Varicella zoster virus infection, but only about 0.15-0.3% have shingles and each year there are 0.2% of new cases. In young people, the disease is usually benign, rarely leaving sequelae. In the elderly, the disease is easily severe, often leaving sequelae. Particularly, post-herpetic neuralgia sequelae, people over 50 years old often have a rate of occurrence 15-25 times higher than people under 30 years old.
Some commonly used drugs
Antiviral group
In the acute phase, acyclovir, valacylovir, and famcilovir are commonly used. All three have similar properties: shortening the time of viral shedding, preventing the formation of new lesions, accelerating the healing process, and reducing the severity of acute pain. The drug should be used early within 24-48 hours of symptoms and in high doses. Do not use topical medications because they are ineffective. The drug does not cause any adverse effects, however, for people with kidney failure, the dose should be reduced.
Image of shingles lesions
Pain relief group
Postherpetic neuralgia is a painful symptom that appears 30 or 60 days after the rash appears or after the scar has healed. The pain is very uncomfortable: aching, burning like a knife stabbing, electric shock. The pain can last for months or years with a number of different sensory disturbances, the most typical of which is pain dysesthesia (even light touch such as clothing in contact with the affected skin area can cause severe pain). In addition, there may be paresthesia (a feeling like a needle prick that occurs spontaneously), dysesthesia (an abnormal feeling with stimulation on the skin), and may be accompanied by symptoms of depression. Medications can be used alone or in combination, including:
Lidocaine: used as a 5% patch, up to 3 patches can be used within 12 hours. The drug can cause local irritation, rarely systemic toxicity. Apply only to intact skin.
Capsaicin cream (active ingredient from chili peppers) 0.025 - 0.075%: apply a low concentration of capsaicin initially, then use a high concentration. The medication causes burning. It should only be applied to intact skin. Some patients stop treatment because they cannot stand the burning sensation.
Amtriptyline, nortriptyline: are tricyclic antidepressants. Start with a low dose and then increase, divided into 3 doses per day. The drug can cause sedation, confusion, urinary retention, postural hypotension, dry mouth, arrhythmia (should be limited in the elderly).
Gabapentin: start with a low dose and gradually increase to a higher dose, divided into 3 doses per day. The drug is well tolerated but can cause dizziness, headache, drowsiness, and loss of consciousness.
Some drugs should not be used
Anti-allergy drugs: Shingles has symptoms similar to allergies but is not an allergic phenomenon, do not use anti-allergy drugs (chlorpheniramine, corticosteroids) in this case.
Antibiotics: Shingles in the pus-filled, ulcerated stage looks like a bacterial infection, but it is a viral disease, so antiviral drugs should be used instead of common antibiotics to fight infections.
Conventional pain relievers: Postherpetic neuralgia is pain of nerve origin. Conventional pain relievers (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) will not be effective.
Do not use herbs: There are no herbs that can fight the virus. Do not apply herbs to shingles lesions (it can easily cause dangerous infections).
When having shingles, you need to actively treat with antiviral drugs to avoid the disease from getting worse. When the disease progresses to the stage of post-herpetic neuralgia, you need to remember that you had shingles before to present it to your doctor (if you go to a new clinic) to avoid using inappropriate painkillers. When there are signs of eye disease (usually late), you need to see an ophthalmologist.
According to Health & Life-NT
