Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same infection that causes chicken pox. The main difference, however, is that shingles generally erupts in a band on one side of the body, rather than all over your body. It is important to see your doctor as soon as possible if you think you may have shingles.
The goals of treatment for shingles are to:
- Shorten the duration of the eruptive stage or rash
- Speed up healing of the lesions
- Relieve patient discomfort
- Shorten the duration of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)
Shingles is usually treated with:
- Prescription oral antiviral drugs to reduce the duration of the infection
- Prescription and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation
- Prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription antidepressants to help with the pain.
The duration of shingles can be significantly reduced for many people with the use of oral prescription antiviral medications. It is important to go to the doctor as soon as you suspect you may have shingles. Shingles should be diagnosed and treated early (within 72 hours, or 3 days) after the rash appears. Oral antiviral medications like FAMVIR® (famciclovir) are used to treat shingles. FAMVIR is available in easy-to-swallow tablets.
Prescription oral FAMVIR may help shingles lesions heal faster for many people. In one clinical study, patients taking FAMVIR saw their shingles lesions heal almost 30% faster than people taking a sugar pill.
In addition, for many people age 50 or older, prescription oral FAMVIR 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.
Practical Tips
 During the eruptive stage of shingles, you should consult your doctor about ways that may allow you to get a good night's sleep and start performing normal activities again.
Here are some things that you can do to promote healing of the shingles rash and reduce the pain:
- Apply cool compresses over the zoster lesions or take a cool bath twice a day
- Avoid exposure to warm and hot water because this could lead to further itching
- Cover shingles lesions with a clean cloth or loose-fitting gauze after cleansing
- Trim fingernails to reduce the chance of bacterial infection from scratching
- Avoid wearing tight clothing over the rash because this could irritate the rash
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