This page has moved. Click here to view. Postherpetic NeuralgiaAlthough herpes zoster is not as contagious as the primary varicella infection, persons with reactivated infection can transmit varicella-zoster virus to nonimmune contacts postherpetic neuralgia, herpes pain, postherpes neuralgia, nuralgia, newralgia, nuralgia. About 20 percent of patients with herpes zoster develop postherpetic neuralgia. The most established risk factor is Postherpetic neuralgia is defined as pain that persists for longer than one to three months after resolution of the rash. Affected patients usually report constant burning, lancinating pain. Symptoms tend to abate over time. Less than one quarter of patients still experience pain at six months after the herpes zoster eruption, and fewer than one in 20 has pain at Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia Although postherpetic neuralgia is generally a self-limited condition, it can
Analgesics Capsaicin (Zostrix-HP), an extract from hot chili peppers, is more efficacious for post-herpetic neuralgia than placebo. Capsaicin cream must be applied to the Lidocaine patches reduce pain intensity, with minimal systemic absorption. The effect lasts only four to 12 hours with Acetaminophen (eg, Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are useful for potentiating the pain-relieving effects of Tricyclic antidepressants that are commonly used in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia include amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil) and Anticonvulsants. Phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol) and gabapentin (Neurontin) are often used to Other modalities used to treat post-herpetic neuralgia include transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS), biofeedback, nerve blocks, and |