 [ Symptoms ] what should i do if i have or think i might have shingles [ Disease ] if you have shingles it is important to talk to your doctor about your risk for developing phn postherpetic neuralgia ask whether preventative treatment with antiviral drugs makes sense if your doctor says it is not necessary ask why the full implications of the psychological risk factors for phn are not clear yet says robert h dworkin phd a professor in the department of anesthesiology at the university of rochester medical center in rochester n y but he suggests that people with shingles should try to stay active and connected if psychological distress is a risk factor for phn  he says then we think that people who have shingles might benefit from getting out and not being isolated and homebound  you might make an effort to stay connected to family and friends and not to dwell on your symptoms also keep in mind that even if you do develop phn there are treatments that can help we have about a half dozen types of drugs that are used as first line treatments for phn  says dworkin they include lidoderm lyrica neurontin tegretol zostrix cream tricyclic antidepressants and painkillers there are many options now and some of them have only become available in the last few years  he says the most important thing is to get prompt medical attention if you think you might have shingles if you have a one sided rash    especially if you are over 50    see your doctor right away  says dworkin it could be shingles and we know that prompt treatment can dramatically reduce the likelihood of developing long term pain 