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Shingles Treatment Options Can Stop The Pain

By Joseph Greary

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 10Mar2012
Word count: 1366
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Shingles is a rash that follows the nerve endings along the skin. This is a painful illness that is caused by the varicella zoster virus. It is most common in older people who have lowered immune systems.

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Chickenpox will lay dormant in nerve endings, and it may be reactivated due to stress, disease or aging. When this happens, a person will develop the painful rash that is known as shingles.

Doctors can provide their patients a shingles treatment that is designed to provide relief in several ways. The treatment is primarily used to reduce the pain and duration of this illness. There is no cure for shingles. However, there are a number of prescription and over the counter (OTC) products that can be effective treatments.

Antiviral medications are usually prescribed as soon as a person has been diagnosed with this illness by their doctor. OTC pain medications can also be used to reduce the pain that is associated with swelling. Antibiotics may be applied to the skin to stop any infection from the shingle blisters.

Doctors usually rely on antiviral medicines to provide shingles treatment. These can reduce the pain as well as the duration of the illness. If they are begun within three days of a shingles rash, there will also be less chances of developing post herpetic neuralgia (PHN). Acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are the most common antiviral medications that are prescribed by doctors.

Patients can also help to relieve the pain and swelling from a shingles rash by relying on OTC pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen. These are effective and help to reduce the amount of swelling that occurs.

Topical antibiotics can be applied directly to the skin. Infections can often accompany a rash due to the open blisters. Applying a topical antibiotic can help to minimize this issue and will speed healing of any rash as well.

In 10 to 15 percent of shingles cases, patients will develop PHN. This is a painful condition that will affect individuals for months or even years after their shingles rash heals. Doctors can prescribe a number of different medications to help with the pain that is related to PHN.

Benzocaine, lidocaine and lidoderm are topical anesthetics that are designed to help eliminate the pain from PHN. Antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, are also prescribed to people whose shingles develop into PHN. If the pain is severe, patients may have to rely on a powerful opioid, such as codeine, to help them eliminate their suffering.

Doctors will often prescribe their patients a shingles treatment that is designed to minimize the duration of this painful rash. They may also provide pain medications. Some people go on to develop PHN, and this painful illness can last up to all year. Finally, I want to remind you that effective stress management is one the best home remedies for shingles you can find.

There are also some natural home remedies for shingles that can relieve the symptoms. Visit our natural shingles treatment website at shinglestreatments.info for more information.

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