Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of shingles. It is a condition in which severe pain from shingles may last for months, and sometimes years, after the shingles rash has healed. PHN occurs from damage to the nerve fibers, caused by the varicella zoster virus. Nerve fibers send messages from the skin to the brain. When nerve fibers are damaged during an outbreak of shingles, they are not able to send messages as they normally do. The body may perceive these "mixed messages" as pain.

The pain associated with PHN may be aching, throbbing, stabbing, sharp, or piercing. Other symptoms of PHN include itching and burning, and the skin may be very sensitive to changes in temperature (either hot or cold), touch (even from clothing or bedding), or the slightest breeze. The pain caused by PHN may be very hard to cope with. It can cause depression, weight loss, and sleepless nights.

The symptoms of PHN are usually limited to the area of the skin where the shingles rash appeared. However, pain may extend beyond the areas of the original rash.

How long does the pain from PHN last? Several different studies have shown the following findings in people with PHN:

• About 50% of people age 50 and older experience pain from PHN for about 5.5 months.



• About 20% of people age 50 and older continue to have pain from PHN after 6 months.



• After 1 year, 2% to 3% of PHN sufferers still have pain. This is especially common in people older than age 70, of which 48% still have PHN after 1 year.



• For many people age 50 or older, prescription oral FAMVIR^® (famciclovir) may significantly shorten the duration of PHN, reducing the number of days you have pain. The people who took FAMVIR started taking the medication within 72 hours (3 days) after the shingles rash appeared. FAMVIR is available in easy-to-swallow tablets.