Shingles is a painful rash caused by an infection of the varicella zoster virus (VZV). This viral infection also is responsible for chicken pox. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), after you recover from the chicken pox, VZV remains dormant in your body, but it can attack you many years later, resulting in shingles. Shingles usually strikes people older than 50, or people with compromised immune systems. Many drugs are commonly used to treat shingles.
Antivirals
Your doctor might prescribe one of three main antiviral medications for shingles, the Mayo Clinic states. These are famciclovir, also sold with the brand name Famvir, valacyclovir, which is marketed as Valtrex in the United States, and acyclovir, sold as Zovirax. The Mayo Clinic website states that all three help to relieve the pain of shingles. They also may help the rash to clear more quickly than it would on its own.
Famciclovir has no reported common serious side effects, but may induce digestive system problems such as pain in the stomach, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
There are some serious common side effects induced by valacyclovir. These include mental difficulties such as empty and sad feelings, discouragement, irritability, concentration difficulties and a lack of interest and an inability to feel normal levels of pleasure. Consult your physician immediately for any of these problems.
The most common side effects that are serious from the intravenous version of acyclovir affect you at the injection site. These include redness, swelling or pain. You also may experience an overall malaise, which is a feeling of general illness and discomfort.
Pain Relievers
When shingles pain is quite severe, your doctor may prescribe drugs specifically designed to help alleviate that pain, the Mayo Clinic reports. These may include narcotic analgesics such as oxycodone and local pain-killing topical medications such as lidocaine.
Other Medications
Your physician may prescribe drugs that will help with the severe pain of the shingles flare-up that are not typical pain relievers. These types of medications more typically are prescribed for other problems, but they work for shingles pain relief, too.
For example, a group of antidepressants known as tricyclics may be used. These are older forms of antidepressants that may cause temporary, nonserious side effects, Drugs.com reports, such as blurry vision, a lowered sex drive, diarrhea, constipation, appetite loss, bodily weakness and insomnia.
Another class of medications known as anticonvulsants---used most often in the treatment of epileptic seizures---also may help relieve shingles pain. The most commonly used anticonvulsant is gabapentin. Its nonserious, temporary side effects include pain in the back, double vision, dizziness, clumsiness and an upset stomach.
