if you're worried about phn (postherpetic neuralgia) don't despair. there are medications that can cut your risks of getting the condition. there are three antiviral drugs used: famvir valtrex and zovirax. these medications need to be started within two to three days of the onset of shingles. "if you look at the clinical trials with any of these drugs in people over 50 " says robert h. dworkin phd a professor in the department of anesthesiology at the university of rochester medical center in rochester n. y "they cut the rate of pain at six months in half. that's a very significant improvement. " they are also very safe and have few side effects he says. but who needs the drugs? dworkin says there's not a clear consensus yet. there are some obvious cases. "i think everyone would agree that someone who is over 50 and has severe symptoms should get preventative treatment " he tells webmd. but for younger people or those with fewer risk factors the course is less clear. "some people think that everyone who gets shingles should get preventative treatment with antiviral medicines " he says "because the medicines are so safe and have such few side effects. "" others argue that preventative treatment should only be given to those at greater risk. the main reason for this dworkin says is cost. "a full course of treatment could cost anywhere between $100 and $160 " he says. "that can add up and insurance companies might not want to pay if the risks are very very low. ""
how can nerve pain be prevented after having shingles?