The primary symptom of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is pain, which can be debilitating. The pain associated with PHN may be aching, throbbing, stabbing, sharp, or piercing. Stress may intensify the severity of the pain. The intensity of the pain can vary, but pain-free intervals are rare. Some people who have had PHN describe the pain as the worst pain they have ever felt.

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. In one clinical study, people age 50 or older who took FAMVIR experienced PHN for about 63 days compared with 163 days for people who did not take FAMVIR. 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.

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. People with PHN may also experience muscle weakness, tremor, or paralysis if the nerves that are affected by PHN control muscle movement, but this is rare.

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.

Effects of PHN

PHN may last for months, and even years, after the shingles rash has healed. The pain from PHN can have a devastating affect on a person's life. In some cases, the pain is so severe that all normal daily activity is affected for months, and social isolation can occur. The pain experienced affects every part of a person's life, and a complete preoccupation with the pain can occur. People with PHN may have trouble sleeping; they may not be able to find a comfortable position sitting, lying down, or even walking around; and they may not want to eat.

Persistent PHN can result in physical, social, and work-related disability. People with PHN may know that their pain will lessen and eventually disappear with time; however, this condition may be accompanied by intense frustration, distress, irritability, and depression. There are resources that can help you cope with the pain of PHN and its associated complications.

Important Information

Prescription oral FAMVIR^® (famciclovir) is not for everyone. In clinical studies with FAMVIR, the most common reported side effects included headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Ask your doctor if FAMVIR is right for you. If you have kidney problems, your doctor will determine if FAMVIR is appropriate and if so, what the right dose is for you. See the full Prescribing Information for more information about FAMVIR.

FAMVIR should be started within 72 hours (3 days) of the first sign of the shingles rash. Treatment started more than 72 hours (3 days) after the rash has appeared has not been studied.

The efficacy of FAMVIR has not been established for the treatment of ophthalmic shingles or disseminated shingles, or in shingles patients with a compromised immune system.