| Thanks to many of the advances in modern | | | | neuralgia, also known as PHN for short. PHN is |
| science and medicine, researchers have developed | | | | basically a persistent pain that continues to occur |
| antibiotics which significantly help people suffering | | | | even after the physical signs of shingles disappear. |
| from a case of shingles. Although there are a | | | | However, it is important to note that some |
| variety of antibiotics that may be prescribed by a | | | | doctors may prescribe an additional antibiotic to |
| doctor to someone suffering from shingles, they | | | | treat the symptoms of PHN. |
| all perform the same basic functions. | | | | In addition to pain medications and antibiotics, |
| Many doctors prefer to prescribe an antibiotic to | | | | researchers are currently pursuing other forms of |
| their patients with shingles. These antibiotics are | | | | treatment. One of the more promising advances |
| designed to not only ease the pain and irritation of | | | | in the field of shingles treatment has been a |
| the shingles rash, but also to decrease the | | | | vaccine to prevent occurrences of shingles. |
| duration that the rash lasts. Antibiotics for shingles | | | | Although there has been a chickenpox vaccine for |
| include Zovirax, Valtrex and Famvir. Regardless of | | | | several years, researchers have not developed a |
| which antibiotic your doctor chooses to prescribe | | | | completely effective shingles vaccine. However, |
| you, the key element is that you begin the | | | | several months ago, the FDA approved a shingles |
| antibiotic in the early stages of shingles. It has | | | | vaccine which is currently being used in high risk |
| been proven in several different studies that | | | | patients. Over the next few years, it is expected |
| these antibiotics are most effective when taken | | | | that this vaccine will be used in an increasing |
| within three days of the initial symptoms of | | | | amount of the general population. Thanks to |
| shingles. By beginning an antibiotic at this stage of | | | | extensive research and development, people are |
| shingles, you can ensure that it has the maximum | | | | being presented with a steadily increasing amount |
| effect on reducing irritation and duration. | | | | of treatment options for cases of shingles. |
| Although some doctors choose to prescribe | | | | Please remember the advice and information in |
| antibiotics to their patients with shingles, other | | | | this article isn't meant nor intended to replace |
| doctors choose to only treat the symptoms of | | | | professional medical advice. If you think you may |
| pain. In these cases, a doctor will recommend a | | | | be suffering from shingles you should speak to a |
| common pain reliever such as Tylenol or Advil. | | | | doctor or special care practitioner as soon as |
| The use of pain medications may be necessary | | | | possible and try to limit your contact with those |
| for some patients even after the rash phase of | | | | around you until you know whether or not you |
| shingles has ended. There are a percentage of | | | | have shingles. |
| shingles sufferers who experience postherpetic | | | | |