Treatment with corticosteroids is controversial. Some common antivirals include acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. Oral antivirals that a person takes within 72 hours after the first symptoms are effective at preventing long-term complications. Shingles that spread to the eye require prompt treatment to prevent vision loss. The goal of medication is to reduce nerve pain with minimal side effects. Capsaicin: An active component of chili peppers, it serves as a topical option for PHN.

Topical anesthetics do not cause systemic side effects such as drowsiness.

Topical local anesthetics: Lidocaine is the topical anesthetic doctors most often prescribe to ease nerve pain.

Opioids: Although opioids effectively block pain, they are addictive, and doctors will carefully monitor how a person uses them.

Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin, can calm these nerve impulses.

Anticonvulsants: Misfiring nerve cells are a common link between seizures and nerve pain.

However, people with heart arrhythmias, a history of heart attack, or glaucoma should not take them.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs): Newer TCAs can be effective for nerve pain and have fewer side effects than older TCAs.

Doctors may prescribe one or more medications from the following drug classes: Below are treatments for each complication. While healthcare professionals prescribe antivirals to help prevent PHN, they can also recommend various treatments for the complications of shingles. The virus that causes shingles can trigger the immune system and cause inflammation on the surface of blood vessels, known as vasculopathy.įor several months following a shingles breakout and particularly in the first few weeks following vasculopathy, the risk of stroke increases by as much as 5%. Infections often involve Staphylococcus aureus or group A beta hemolytic Streptococcus bacteria.

If a person scratches open the blisters of a shingles rash, they may develop an infection. It can also lead to meningitis, an infection of the brain or spinal cord, or stroke. Swelling of the brainĪlthough it is rare, shingles can spread to the brain and cause encephalitis, or brain inflammation. If shingles develop on the face or head near the ear or within the ear itself, an individual should seek medical attention. Shingles near the ear or on the face can affect hearing and balance and, in some cases, the use of facial muscles. If shingles are present on the face or if there is redness or swelling of the eye, a person should seek medical attention. In some cases, this can lead to temporary or permanent vision loss. When shingles develop near or on the eye, including the forehead and nose, it can lead to infections on the eye’s surface. PHN often resolves within 1 year after first appearing, and it may take longer or can be permanent in some people.

The area may generally be more prone to feeling pain. PHN can also cause small things that do not typically cause pain, such as a gentle touch or cool wind, to hurt. It can be stabbing, shooting, burning, achy, throbbing, or feel like a shock. This nerve pain may be intermittent or continuous. It can also occur during an active shingles infection. It develops in about 20% of people who have had shingles and is more common in those over 50 years of age. The most common complication is PHN, which results in nerve pain in the area where shingles have occurred. Although shingles usually resolve in 2–4 weeks, some people may develop complications, including: Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN)

After effects of shingles