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Is oral antiviral therapy for localized herpes zoster safe and effective for preventing postherpetic neuralgia?

Margaret Day, Kristen Deane, Luke Stephens

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Abstract

Evidence-Based Answer Oral acyclovir reduces the incidence of subacute postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) at 1 month, but does not reduce the incidence of PHN at 4 or 6 months after onset of rash (SOR: A, systematic review of RCTs). Famciclovir speeds relief of zoster pain, but does not decrease the incidence of PHN (SOR: B, single RCT). Valacyclovir may reduce PHN at 6 months compared with acyclovir (SOR: B, single comparative RCT).

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What this paper is about

Evidence-Based Answer Oral acyclovir reduces the incidence of subacute postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) at 1 month, but does not reduce the incidence of PHN at 4 or 6 months after onset of rash (SOR: A, systematic review of RCTs). Famciclovir speeds relief of zoster pain, but does not decrease the incidence of PHN (SOR: B, single RCT). Valacyclovir may reduce PHN at 6 months compared with acyclovir (SOR: B, single comparative RCT).

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Main findings

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Available abstract

Evidence-Based Answer Oral acyclovir reduces the incidence of subacute postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) at 1 month, but does not reduce the incidence of PHN at 4 or 6 months after onset of rash (SOR: A, systematic review of RCTs). Famciclovir speeds relief of zoster pain, but does not decrease the incidence of PHN (SOR: B, single RCT). Valacyclovir may reduce PHN at 6 months compared with acyclovir (SOR: B, single comparative RCT).

Key concepts: Postherpetic neuralgia, Famciclovir, Medicine, Valaciclovir, Incidence (geometry), Rash, Randomized controlled trial, Neuralgia

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Is oral antiviral therapy for localized herpes zoster safe and effective for preventing postherpetic neuralgia? — Research Paper | ScholarLens