TOC  | ID   Postherpetic Neuralgia

Antiviral Rx during early phase:

• Famvir/Famciclovir  500 mg tid x1week for Shingles
• Zovirax/Acyclovir  800 mg 5x/day x1 week for Shingles
• Valtrex/Valacyclovir 500 mg 2 caplets tid x1 week for Shingles.                                                                                                                       

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) with or without codeine PO

Nortriptyline 10-20 mg/day or Amitriptyline 10-25 mg/day PO

Lidoderm/ Lidocaine 5% patch for postherpetic neuralgia for 12 hours/day 
JAMA July 14, 1999:282 -    Eric Colman

Lumbar intrathecal methylprednisolone 60 mg in 3 ml Lidocaine 3% weekly x 4 weeks
NEJM Nov. 23, 2000;343: 1514 - N.Kotani, etc.
NEJM Nov.23, 2000;343:1563 - C. Peter Watson (Editorial)

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