Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: tricyclic antidepressants still the reference.

Abstract

(1) Pain generally disappears when herpes zoster lesions have healed, but the risk of postherpetic neuralgia, though it is low, increases with age. (2) Antivirals prescribed during the acute phase do not reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia, but they do reduce its duration. (3) Common non specific analgesics such as paracetamol seem inadequate against postherpetic neuralgia. Amitriptyline and desipramine, despite their limited efficacy, are the reference. Gabapentin, although somewhat less effective, is a possible second line option. It is unclear how long treatment should last.

• Journal: Prescrire international (Prescrire Int) Vol. 11 Issue 62 Pg. 184-6 (Dec 2002) ISSN: 1167-7422 [Print] France
• PMID: 12472100 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Acetates
• Analgesics
• Anticonvulsants
• Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
• Antiviral Agents

Topics

• Acetates (therapeutic use)
• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic (therapeutic use)
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Herpes Zoster (complications, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Neuralgia (drug therapy, etiology, virology)
• Pain (drug therapy, etiology, virology)
• Treatment Outcome