Antiviral Therapy and Patient Management for Herpes Zoster

Antiviral Treatment

• Antiviral medications are generally well-tolerated with common side effects including nausea, headache, and gastrointestinal disturbances 1

Special Populations

• For immunocompromised patients with severe disease or complications, intravenous acyclovir 5 mg/kg every 8 hours may be required, and longer duration of therapy may be needed until clinical resolution is attained 2

Patient Education

• Patients should be advised that lesions are contagious to individuals who have not had chickenpox and should avoid contact with susceptible individuals until lesions have crusted 3