Postherpetic Neuralgia

Pain in nerves, frequently involving facial SKIN, resulting from the activation the latent varicella-zoster virus (HERPESVIRUS 3, HUMAN). The two forms of the condition preceding the pain are HERPES ZOSTER OTICUS; and HERPES ZOSTER OPHTHALMICUS. Following the healing of the rashes and blisters, the pain sometimes persists.

Also Known As:

Networked: 658 relevant articles (129 outcomes, 165 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Pain (Aches)
2.	Neuralgia (Stump Neuralgia)
3.	Diabetic Neuropathies (Diabetic Neuropathy)
4.	Herpes Zoster
5.	Peripheral Nervous System Diseases (PNS Diseases)

Experts

1.	Vanhove, Geertrui F: 10 articles (09/2013 - 08/2009)
2.	Dworkin, Robert H: 9 articles (07/2015 - 12/2002)
3.	Derry, Sheena: 9 articles (01/2015 - 01/2009)
4.	Moore, R Andrew: 9 articles (01/2015 - 01/2009)
5.	Rauck, Richard: 7 articles (12/2015 - 12/2008)
6.	Sweeney, Michael: 7 articles (10/2015 - 01/2012)
7.	Emir, Birol: 7 articles (07/2015 - 11/2008)
8.	Wiffen, Philip J: 7 articles (01/2015 - 01/2009)
9.	Kuraishi, Yasushi: 7 articles (01/2014 - 05/2002)
10.	Tyring, Stephen K: 7 articles (10/2013 - 06/2006)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Postherpetic Neuralgia:

1.	gabapentin (Neurontin)FDA LinkGeneric 01/01/2013 - "Gabapentin and tricyclic antidepressant are effective in postherpetic neuralgia. " 11/01/2001 - "Thus, this study confirms the role of gabapentin as an efficacious and well-tolerated treatment for postherpetic neuralgia." 04/01/1996 - "Gabapentin as a novel treatment for postherpetic neuralgia." 09/01/2012 - "The efficacy of once-daily gastroretentive gabapentin for the management of postherpetic neuralgia has been demonstrated in placebo-controlled clinical studies. " 12/01/2013 - "Safety and efficacy of once-daily gastroretentive gabapentin in patients with postherpetic neuralgia aged 75 years and over."
2.	pregabalin (Lyrica)FDA Link 08/01/2010 - "The efficacy of pregabalin was demonstrated in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled 13-week trial in 371 Japanese patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). " 08/01/2010 - "[Long-term efficacy and safety of pregabalin in patients with postherpetic neuralgia: results of a 52-week, open-label, flexible-dose study]." 04/22/2003 - "Pregabalin for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial." 08/01/2014 - "Can early administration of pregabalin reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia?" 01/01/2009 - "Pregabalin: in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia."
3.	Lidocaine (Xylocaine)FDA LinkGeneric 05/01/2010 - "Topical lidocaine (LDC) treatment using a gel or patch preparation is effective in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), but neither is suited for the eye in patients with ophthalmic PHN. " 06/01/2005 - "Topical lidocaine is effective in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). " 06/01/2005 - "Postherpetic neuralgia: topical lidocaine is effective in nociceptor-deprived skin." 01/01/2010 - "Lidocaine 5% patches are a new treatment option currently licensed for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. " 04/01/1999 - "This study compared the efficacy of topical lidocaine patches versus vehicle (placebo) patches applied directly to the painful skin of subjects with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) utilizing an 'enriched enrollment' study design. "
4.	Tricyclic Antidepressive Agents (Tricyclic Antidepressants)IBA 02/01/2008 - "Treatments used in an attempt to reduce postherpetic neuralgia include tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. " 09/15/2005 - "There is evidence to support using antiviral therapy and possibly low-dose tricyclic antidepressants to prevent postherpetic neuralgia. " 01/01/2003 - "This paper retrospectively reviews features of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in up to 279 personal patients in relation to treatment outcome when treated with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). " 12/01/2002 - "Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: tricyclic antidepressants still the reference." 09/15/2005 - "In patients who develop postherpetic neuralgia, there is good evidence to support treatment with gabapentin and tricyclic antidepressants. "
5.	Capsaicin (Zostrix)FDA Link 10/01/2012 - "We report a case of trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia which was safely and effectively treated with capsaicin 8 % patch." 08/01/1989 - "Uncontrolled studies have indicated that topically applied capsaicin may be a safe and effective treatment for postherpetic neuralgia. " 05/01/1993 - "A large double-blind, vehicle-controlled study of 143 patients with chronic postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) was performed to evaluate the degree of efficacy of topically applied capsaicin 0.075% cream. " 10/01/2012 - "A new topical capsaicin 8 % patch has been approved for this indication based on the positive studies in patients with non-trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia. " 01/01/2012 - "A five-item Self-Assessment of Treatment (SAT) was developed to assess improvement and satisfaction with treatment associated with the application of a novel high concentration 8% capsaicin topical patch in clinical trials in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). "
6.	Acyclovir (Aciclovir)FDA LinkGeneric 07/01/1992 - "Pooled data from both groups corroborated earlier reports that prompt treatment with oral acyclovir reduces the severity of the skin eruption, the incidence and severity of late ocular manifestations, and the intensity of postherpetic neuralgia. " 04/28/1997 - "Meta-analysis of published randomized clinical trials on the use of acyclovir to prevent postherpetic neuralgia using the fixed-effects model of Peto. " 01/01/1990 - "Twenty-one patients with postherpetic neuralgia of two- to 84-months duration participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of oral acyclovir. " 01/01/1990 - "A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of oral acyclovir in postherpetic neuralgia." 05/01/2013 - "All of the patients received acyclovir; 58.3% of patients had postherpetic neuralgia and no cases of recurrence were reported. "
7.	Opioid Analgesics (Opioids)IBA 07/01/2003 - "Tricyclics and opioids effective for treatment of postherpetic neuralgia." 06/01/2006 - "Using data from a previously published crossover trial of opioids and tricyclics in postherpetic neuralgia, the authors evaluated baseline thermal pain thresholds, assessed at a body site contralateral to the affected area, as a predictor of treatment responses. " 02/01/2015 - "Opioids are one drug-based treatment option for short- (4-12 weeks), intermediate- (13-25 weeks) and long-term (≥ 26 weeks) therapy of chronic osteoarthritis, diabetic polyneuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia and low back pain. " 05/01/2013 - "Injection of opioids to the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) has been reported to provide pain relief in patients suffering from different kinds of neuropathic facial pain conditions, such as trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia, and atypical facial pain. " 03/25/2003 - "Opioids versus antidepressants in postherpetic neuralgia: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial."
8.	Anticonvulsants (Antiepileptic Drugs)IBA 12/01/2008 - "The role of anticonvulsant drugs in the treatment of neuropathic pain is evolving and various clinical trials have used these anticonvulsants and shown positive results in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, painful diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia. " 11/01/2001 - "Efficacy of the newer antiepileptic drugs has been confirmed in placebo-controlled studies for trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia, painful polyneuropathy and central poststroke pain. " 12/01/2000 - "In postherpetic neuralgia, three reports compared antidepressants with placebo (145 patient episodes) and one compared anticonvulsants with placebo (225), giving an NNT with antidepressants of 2.1 (1. 7-3) and with anticonvulsants 3.2 (2.4-5). " 12/01/2000 - "To determine the relative efficacy and adverse effects of antidepressants and anticonvulsants in the treatment of diabetic neuroapathy and postherpetic neuralgia, published reports were identified from a variety of electronic databases, including Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and the Oxford Pain Relief Database, and from two previously published reviews. " 12/01/2000 - "Antidepressants and anticonvulsants for diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia: a quantitative systematic review."
9.	Amitriptyline (Elavil)FDA LinkGeneric 06/01/1997 - "The effects of pre-emptive treatment of postherpetic neuralgia with amitriptyline: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial." 06/01/1982 - "To study the effects of amitriptyline in treating postherpetic neuralgia, 24 patients were randomly assigned to either drug or placebo in a double-blind crossover study. " 08/01/2002 - "In postherpetic neuralgia when amitriptyline fails." 10/01/1998 - "OBJECTIVE (BACKGROUND): Amitriptyline (AT) is a standard therapy for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). " 01/01/1992 - "Amitriptyline (AT) relieves some patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). "
10.	Antidepressive Agents (Antidepressants)IBA 01/01/1992 - "The above findings suggest that, in patients with postherpetic neuralgia in whom the initiation of treatment was delayed, treatment mainly consisting of thoracic or lumbar sympathetic ganglion block using alcohol in combination with antidepressants and antianxiety drugs can greatly improve patients' activities of daily life and that, at present, this method is most effective in relieving postherpetic neuralgia." 01/01/1987 - "These data also suggest that antidepressant drugs may be effective in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, back pain, and pain from mixed etiologies; however, data for these pain syndromes are less clear, and, thus, further testing is required." 01/01/1990 - "Conditions in which antidepressants have been used include diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, headaches, arthritis, chronic back pain, cancer, thalamic pain, facial pain, and phantom limb pain. " 03/25/2003 - "Opioids versus antidepressants in postherpetic neuralgia: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial." 10/08/2002 - "Opioids versus antidepressants in postherpetic neuralgia: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial."

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Drug Therapy (Chemotherapy) 01/01/2015 - "A patient-specific, stepped approach to topical and intranasal analgesic pharmacotherapy was effective in reducing refractory postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) not responding to the current standard of care for PHN. " 01/14/1986 - "[Drug therapy of so-called postherpetic neuralgia, the only valid alternative. " 01/01/2009 - "Materials and Methods.  We performed continuous epidural blocks (CEB) on 52 patients with severe persistent pain of postherpetic neuralgia in the thoracic nerve area, and also inserted spinal stimulation leads in 14 who showed no improvement in the severe pain with concomitant pharmacotherapy. " 01/01/2004 - "The drug therapy of trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia is similar to that of other neuropathic trigeminal pain conditions." 08/01/2010 - "A prospective, multicentre, open-label, non-comparative study included patients age >or= 18 years diagnosed with neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP), or human immunodeficiency virus-related PNP. "
2.	Activities of Daily Living (ADL) 08/01/2004 - "The ZBPI measure appears useful for quantifying herpes zoster pain, postherpetic neuralgia, and impairment in daily living activities for clinical trials of herpes zoster prevention." 11/01/2002 - "Postherpetic neuralgia may cause fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, interference with social roles and leisure activity, and impaired basic and instrumental activities of daily living. " 08/01/2004 - "In preparation for clinical trials of a vaccine against herpes zoster (HZ), we conducted a prospective, observational study to evaluate (1) the Zoster Brief Pain Inventory (ZBPI), an HZ-specific questionnaire to quantify HZ pain and discomfort, (2) an operational definition of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), and (3) a severity-duration measure of the burden of illness caused by HZ. HZ patients aged 60 years or older (n = 121) were enrolled within 14 days of rash onset and completed ZBPI, McGill Pain Questionnaire Present Pain Intensity (PPI), quality of life (QoL), and activities of daily living (ADL) questionnaires on a predetermined schedule. " 04/01/2014 - "The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with locally injected cobalamin in relieving pain and improving activities of daily living in patients with postherpetic neuralgia. "
3.	Injections 04/01/2015 - "This case illustrates transforaminal epidural steroid injections may be a successful treatment option for postherpetic neuralgia. " 06/01/1984 - "Although local anesthetic injections effectively relieved the acute pain of active herpes zoster, they did not prevent the development of chronic postherpetic neuralgia." 01/01/2011 - "The only randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with focal painful neuropathies due to nerve trauma or postherpetic neuralgia demonstrated significant effects on average pain intensity from 2 weeks after the injections to 14 weeks. " 01/01/1997 - "We consider histamine injections as a useful tool in the differential diagnosis of postherpetic neuralgia." 04/01/1980 - "Patients treated with dehydroemetine did not experience postherpetic neuralgia, and in fourteen pain completely disappeared at the end of only one series of treatment, which in four patients consisted of only three injections. "
4.	Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS) 04/01/2014 - "Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in combination with cobalamin injection for postherpetic neuralgia: a single-center randomized controlled trial." 09/01/2010 - "Pregabalin and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for postherpetic neuralgia treatment." 01/01/2012 - "To evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in treatment of Herpes zoster (HZ), and prevention of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) compared with antiviral drugs. " 01/01/2012 - "TENS - an alternative to antiviral drugs for acute herpes zoster treatment and postherpetic neuralgia prevention." 04/01/2014 - "The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with locally injected cobalamin in relieving pain and improving activities of daily living in patients with postherpetic neuralgia. "
5.	Intravenous Infusions 01/01/2001 - "Twenty patients with postherpetic neuralgia received an intravenous infusion of flecainide and 15 (75%) of those who achieved pain relief subsequently received oral flecainide. " 07/01/1991 - "We studied the analgesic efficacy of an intravenous infusion of lidocaine and morphine in 19 adults with well-established postherpetic neuralgia in a three-session, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. " 01/01/2004 - "Intravenous infusion of adenosine 5"-triphosphate alleviated a disabling postherpetic neuralgia."