Duration of Shingles Pain

Characteristics of Shingles

• The rash evolves through stages of vesicles, pustules, and crusts, with new vesicle formation continuing for 3-5 days, and crusts typically persist for 2-3 weeks before resolving, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1

Treatment Considerations

• The British Journal of Anaesthesia recommends treatment options for established PHN, including tricyclic antidepressants, which can help alleviate symptoms of PHN, such as allodynia and hyperalgesia 2
• The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends treatment options for established PHN, including anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin, and topical treatments, such as lidocaine patches and capsaicin 3

Duration of Nerve Pain After Herpes Zoster

Special Considerations

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that PHN can be incapacitating in patients with advanced HIV disease and other immunocompromised states 4