Is an over-the-counter cream effective for severe post-shingles pain?

Hello,

When we talk about pain related to shingles, there are 2 phases: the acute phase and the post-herpetic neuralgia. The acute phase is the pain that appears when the lesions come out and can last a few weeks while the lesions heal. Unfortunately, in some people, after this acute phase, they will still have pain. This is called post-herpetic neuralgia and can last for weeks, months and sometimes even years, because the shingles have permanently damaged nerves

In the second phase of post-herpetic neuralgia, as your father seems to be, certain medications can be used. It is true that Zostrix is a cream option. So by applying the cream regularly 4 times a day for more than a week, the pain may eventually subside. However, it is important to remember that the cream is based on capsaicin, the same ingredient as in hot peppers. Thus, during the first few days, the cream may cause an increase in pain, redness and a burning sensation. Therefore, in practice, it is rarely used. Moreover, shingles is not a skin disease, but its pain is caused by nerve damage. Thus, cream treatments have a limited impact

Thus, our best options for treating post-herpetic pain remain tablets taken by mouth. These are medications taken on a regular basis over a period of time to prevent pain. These must however be prescribed by a physician.

We look forward to hearing from you,

Sarah-Yan Chagnon, pharmacist

I'm glad to hear it. Pregabalin is one of the most prescribed treatments for post-herpetic pain by the doctor. It is clear that this medication is more effective than any of the creams available

Please know that if necessary, your local pharmacist can always help you adjust the medication to find the most appropriate dose.