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Treatments for acute shingles and early Postherpetic neuralgia:

If started within 72 hours, antiviral antibiotics such as Famvir (famciclovir), Valtrex (valcyclovir) and Zovirax (acyclovir) markedly shorten the duration of the initial shingles infection. Antivirals also reduce the later risk of developing post herpetic neuralgia (or PHN). However, after 72 hours the success rate drops off very rapidly. Therefore, if you suspect shingles, you should see your doctor promptly.

Suspect shingles if you develop an itching or painful rash. A Herpes rash typically has small blebs or vesicles, like tiny balloons out-pouching from the skin. Most often the shingles rash tends to form a straight line over the path of the infected nerve.

Strong pain medicines taken early, e.g. codeine or morphine, also reduces post herpetic neuralgia complications. Nerve stabilizing medicines such as the tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. Elavil, Pamelor) also reduce the risk of developing PHN.

Neither pain medicines nor the tricyclics have anti-viral effects. That they help prevent postherpetic neuralgia suggests that severe pain causes damage to the nerve, which then feeds back into the spinal cord, causing changes there that create increased pain sensitivity. This mechanism may be similar to the neural sensitization process that is believed to cause fibromyaglia.

See fibromyalgia treatments and fibromyalgia diets

High-doses of cortisone-type medicines, and also electrical stimulation along the involved nerve might also reduce the risk of chronic shingles complications. However, the evidence for these treatments isn’t conclusive.

See Our Description of the causes and symptoms of post-shingles pain known as postherpetic neuralgia (post herpetic neuralgia) or PHN

Chronic stage treatments for Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN):

The pain of PHN probably reflects damage at multiple points along the damaged nerve and in the spinal cord and perhaps also the brain. Therefore, the best treatment needs to address multiple points of vulnerability. Optimal care also requires holistic attention to the body’s natural healing systems, creating a metabolic environment that minimizes further damage and encourages repair.

Our goal is to both relieve current symptoms while also taking steps to heal the increased sensitivity to pain that typically occurs with this illness. (No, it’s not psychological or “all in your head”.)

See our discussion of this holistic approach: Reversing Eight Vicious Cycles That Block Normal Healing

Topical Pain Relief Medicines: Many (but not all) persons with PHN improve by using topical medicines applied to skin over the path of the nerve that was damaged by the acute bout with shingles. These topical medicines include:

• Capsaicin cream (e.g. one brand name is Zostrix). Capsaicin derives from jalapeno pepper. Applied four or five times daily over several weeks, capsaicin gradually depletes the damaged nerve of an inflammatory substance called substance P. Reducing substance P gradually reduces pain. However, capsaicin, during its first days of use, can itself irritate and increase pain. Obviously, avoid getting capsaicin anywhere near the eye.
• Geranium Oil (Neuragen) may have local anesthetic-like effects, reducing nerve pain within an hour, and lasting for 12 hours. One useful technique may be to first calm the nerve with Geranium or Lidocaine (see below), and then add on Capsaicin. Neuragen, made by Origin Biomedicinals, is the only brand of Geranium with published research.
• Origin Biomedicinals Geranium Oil product, Neuragen is the only brand with published research.
• Lidocaine (xylocaine) patch, an effective local anesthetic, can reduce both pain and allodynia in a large proportion of PHN patients. One can apply up to four large patches around the affected nerve. But one usually may not keep the patches on for longer than 12 hours out of 24.
• Ketamine ointment is an anesthetic that also blocks an additional stop along the pain amplification pathways. This is called the NMDA receptor. Ketamine (which in oral form can be a substance of abuse) is generally safe to use topically. With a physician’s prescription, a compounding pharmacist can make it at various strengths.
• Neurontin, aspirin-like medicines, tricyclic anti-depressants and other medicines that we usually use orally are sometimes as or even more effective applied topically over the nerve. With a physician’s prescription a compounding pharmacist can make up many useful combinations of topical medicines.
• Note: Specialized compounding pharmacists can make up many topical and oral medicines that are not carried by “chain” pharmacies. Most fill orders by mail, if you are not located near them. The International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists can help you identify nearby compounding pharmacists:

Natural Oral Treatments for Postherpetic neuralgia (postherpetic neuralgia):

None of the following natural products has had double-blind studies specifically for use with PHN. However. most have been used with some success for various kinds of nerve pain-related problems. For example: diabetic neuropathy, migraine headache or fibromyalgia. These natural treatments typically take weeks to a month to work. They may have their effects by improving nerve healing overall. There is no way to tell in advance which ones will be tolerated or effective for whom. And since we are doing multiple treatments at the same time, even with patient we might not be sure which are working. However, as a group they are very safe, so they are often worth a try.

• Magnesium– is known to block the NMDA receptor pain amplification system. Magnesium also acts to improve multiple biochemical metabolic pathways.
• Carnitine and Acetyl Carnitine may improving mitochondrial energy metabolism Note: Carnitine is also available as an FDA approved drug, brand name Carnitor.
• Anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals may reduce oxidative stress damage to nerves, e.g. Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Selenium, Zinc, N-acetyl Cysteine (which helps make glutathione)
• Alpha lipoic acid, an important anti-oxidant, has substantial evidence in short term studies for improving diabetes-caused nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy).
• Evening primrose oil, an important natural oil, has one excellent study showing improvement in diabetic neuropathy. Sadly, since that study was published in 1993, no one has bothered to repeat it. You’d like to see a replication or two before accepting a proof as true. But, the best evidence we have right now is that Primrose Oil is probably very good for diabetic neuropathy, so it’s probably worth trying for other nerve damage syndromes also.
• Omega-3 essential fatty acid sources, including fish oil, algae, and flaxseed oil, are critical for making and repairing nerve cells within the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
• B vitamins including thiamine, folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 are essential for nerve health.
• The amino acid lysine may help suppress herpes virus infections. However, there’s no firm information about whether it helps healing once PHN is established.

Oral Medicines for PHN: A surprisingly large number of different classes of medicines each seems to help a fair proportion of persons with nerve pain and allodynia (increased sensitivity to pain). However, none works for everyone and difficulty with side effects is also quite common.

Note: Many persons with PHN are not only more sensitive to pain, but are often also more sensitive to the side effects of medicines. Fortunately, for the most part, these are not dangerous drugs. So it often makes sense to go through the list on a “trial and error” basis until you find one that’s good for you. However, it’s also often wise to start with a dose that’s lower than the dose that other people usually start at.

Each of the following medicines seem to help some persons with nerve related pain syndromes, although only a few have been systematically studies for postherpetic neuralgia:.

Tricyclic antidepressant medicines. We use these for PHN at much lower does than we normally use for depression. Tricyclics can help PHN, whether or not you are depressed. For example: Elavil (amitryptiline), Sinequan (doxepin), Pamelor (nortriptyline). Also related to the tricyclics:Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine)

Caution: The tricylics can sometimes increase vulnerability to heart rhythm abnormalities. An EKG to check the heart’s “QT interval” should be considered especially if you use higher doses or have a history of heart rhythm abnormalities or other heart problems.

Nerve stabilizing/anti-seizures medicines. Many medicines that we currently use to treat epileptic seizures also have value for a some persons with nerve-related pain syndromes.

Neurontin (gabapenitin) has good data showing benefit specifically for PHN. Gabitril (tiagabine) is similar to Neurontin. Pregabalin, a soon to be available drug from Pfizer is also of this class.

Trileptal (oxcarbazapine) is useful for trigeminal neuralgia nerve pain, but has not been tested specifically for PHN. Trileptal is a safer version of Tegretol (carbamazepine), a long-established medicine used for for nerve-related pain.
Lamictal (lamotrigine) and Topomax (topiramate) are additional nerve stabilizing/anti-seizures medicines that might potentially be helpful.

Muscle Relaxant/anti- muscle spasm medicines:
Zanaflex (tizanidine), an alpha adrenergic blocking agent, and Baclofen, a GABA receptor stimulating medicine, are both used for muscle spasm in multiple sclerosis. Both are sometimes useful for nerve-related pain.

The benzodiazepines tranquilizers such as Valium, Klonopin, Ativan, and Xanex have muscle relaxing effects. In some persons this helps reduce pain. Caution: benziodiazepines are potentially habit-forming if used frequently.

Narcotic-related pain medicines. If pain is too severe for aspirin/advil type anti-inflammatory agents or acetminophen(Tylenol) often Ultram (tramadol) is a relatively good
and relatively non-addictive pain medicine choice.

Strong narcotic medicines can also be considered. Attitudes are changing toward a more positive view of these opium-related pain medicines. Recent research suggests that persons who have no personal or family history of drug or alcohol abuse are not likely to abuse prescription narcotic drugs. Of course, for some, narcotics do pose a risk of drug abuse. The choice of whether to use narcotic pain medicines has to be individualized for each patient.

Many different narcotic pain medicines are available including codeine, hydrocodeine, and morphine. All are constipating and may be sedating. While narcotic pain medicines can be taken intermittently, for those who require continuous treatment pain specialists prefer combining longer acting agents such as the 3 day Duragesic (fentanyl) patch, with occasional “break-through” use of shorter acting agents such as Percocet or codeine.

Recently pain specialists have taken a second look at Methadone, because of several advantages. Methadone is inexpensive compared to the others, and does not cause a euphoric “high” as other narcotic pain medicines might. Methadone, may also work at pain receptor sites in addition to those of other narcotic medicines, such as the NMDA receptor. All narcotic pain medicines can cause addiction, sedation, prostate problems and constipation.

Other medicine approaches include:

Zofran, usually used for nausea–for some persons also helps nerve-related pain. However, Zofran can cause major problems with constipation.

Namenda (memantine), was recently approved by the FDA for treating moderate and advanced Alzheimer’s disease. However, Namenda is also is the safest and most potent medicine we have that acts to calm down the NMDA class of pain receptors in the spine and brain. It has not yet be tested for PHN, fibromyalgia or other pain syndromes. However, in theory, it is likely to be helpful for some persons with these conditions.

Other non-medicine potential approaches:

Anesthesiologist pain specialists claim some success injecting anesthetics or corticosteroids into areas in or near where the affected PHN nerve enters the spine.

Acupuncture may be helpful for some, but certainly not for all.

A few individuals benefit by cutting the tiny nerve branches under the skin that connect to the damaged PHN nerve. A few individuals have been reported to benefit by cutting out that areas of skin entirely.

Electrical stimulation techniques can be helpful. A portable TENS (transcutaneal electrical stimulation unit) can reduce chronic pain.

We have been doing research with a low dose electrical technique called frequency specific stimulation. This technique for healing nerves and nerve pains was developed by Carolyn McMakin, D.C. a Portland Oregon pain specialist.

See Dr. McMakin’s Frequency Specific Microcurrent

For critical information about treating pain syndromes please see our page on Fibromyalgia Treatment and Fibromyalgia Diets.

For information about holistic healing please see our page on Reversing Eight Vicious Cycles That Block Normal Healing

Post shingles Pain (top of page)

See discussion of the nature, origin and symptoms of shingles pain and post herpetic neuralgia.