“Shingles can be very, very painful,” says Tout. “The pain is related to inflammation of the nerves and is often described as burning, throbbing, stabbing, or an electric-shock sensation.”
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve)
- Capsaicin topical patch (Qutenza)
- Anticonvulsant drugs such as gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise) and pregabalin (Lyrica)
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline (Pamelor)
- Numbing medications such as lidocaine
- Opioids such as tramadol, oxycodone, or morphine
- An injection of corticosteroids and local anesthetic
- Oral corticosteroids
“[W]hile [pain medications] can be somewhat helpful, they often have drawbacks, especially in older adults or individuals with certain health conditions like diabetes,” Tout says. “Starting antiviral medication promptly has been shown to reduce the severity and duration of time with shingles-related pain, but it doesn’t make the pain medications themselves work better.”
“Like the pain-relieving treatments for shingles itself, the medications we use for treating postherpetic neuralgia are less effective than we would like and can often come with side effects,” Tout says.
“It is expected [you’ll] need less and less pain medications over time, and most people experience resolution by three months. However some [people], most commonly older individuals, can experience pain for up to two years or even longer.”
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