Shingles Treatment
There is no cure for shingles, but shingles treatment can shorten duration of disease and prevent complications.
Treatment options include:
* Antiviral drugs to reduce pain and duration of shingles.
* Pain Medication, antidepressants, and topical creams to relieve long-term pain.
shingles treatment
Early Shingles Treatment
Immediately after you are diagnosed with shingles, your doctor may start treatment with antiviral drugs shingles. If you begin medicines within the first 2 days of seeing the shingles rash, you have a lower chance to have problems later, such as postherpetic neuralgia. Early treatment of shingles is important, because the problems that can arise can be serious and resistant to treatment. For example, 40% to 50% of people with postherpetic neuralgia do not respond treatment.
The most common treatment for herpes zoster include:
* antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir, to reduce pain and duration of shingles.
* Over-the-counter, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen, to help reduce pain during an attack of shingles.
* Antibiotics topical, applied directly to the skin, to stop the infection in blisters.
Corticosteroids can also be used to reduce pain in people younger than 50 who have had recent outbreaks of herpes zoster.
Ongoing Shingles Treatment
If you have pain that lasts more than one month after the shingles treatment of herpes zoster rash, your doctor may diagnose postherpetic neuralgia, the most common complication of herpes zoster. postherpetic neuralgia can cause pain for months or years. It affects 10% to 15% of those who experienced shingles.
Treatment to reduce pain from postherpetic neuralgia include:
* Antidepressants drugs, such as tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline).
* Topical anesthetics such as lidocaine patches, to numb the area.
* Anticonvulsant drugs, such as gabapentin or pregabalin.
* Opioids, like codeine.
Topical creams containing capsaicin may provide some relief shingles treatment of pain. Capsaicin may irritate or burn skin of some people, and should be used with caution.
Treatment if the condition gets worse.
Please suggest diagnosis and possible treatment for the following symptoms described in Patient : Male : Age 56.
- Burning sensation behind right eye and along the top of the right side of the head.
- Feel a ‘lump’ from the right side of the head that travels down to the spine.
- Recent cataract surgery.
- Lack of sleep.
- Tired and feeling of constant burn-out.
- Tonics or energy-boosters increases the sensation of ‘burning’.
- Lack of focus and concentration.
- Inability to think clearly.
- Irritability and short-temper.
- A sensation of ‘rattling’ in the head that is increased and creates a numbness in the brain. This is acute in cold weather.
I am presently on the following medication :
Rivotril (2mg) – I take 1/2 thrice a day.
Suggestions for treatment centres or possible authorities in the field in South Africa will be appreciated.
A prompt response will be appreciated as the condition is unbearable and deteriorating.
Thank You.