Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
How Long Does Herpes Zoster Take To Get Cured?
Question: Hello Sir/Mam,
My dad has been diagnosed with hepres zoster 10 days back. It started from mid back & has reached nearby heart. He is suffering from severe muscle pain, heart pain. Boils & rashes give burning sensation.
Initially, he took Ayurvedic medicine prescribed by a doctor for 3 days but then we consulted a specialist in our village and he prescribed him following medicines:
Mahagaba M-75 for 1 month(only at night).
Omez capsule for 1 week(Before food morning).
Ocuvir-800DT 3 times for 1 week.
Derma Dew lotion.
Please guide me on how long it will take to get fully cured? Are there any side effects of these medications?
Should Mahagaba M-75 for 1 month(only at night) have to be taken for 1 complete month.
My dad has been diagnosed with hepres zoster 10 days back. It started from mid back & has reached nearby heart. He is suffering from severe muscle pain, heart pain. Boils & rashes give burning sensation.
Initially, he took Ayurvedic medicine prescribed by a doctor for 3 days but then we consulted a specialist in our village and he prescribed him following medicines:
Mahagaba M-75 for 1 month(only at night).
Omez capsule for 1 week(Before food morning).
Ocuvir-800DT 3 times for 1 week.
Derma Dew lotion.
Please guide me on how long it will take to get fully cured? Are there any side effects of these medications?
Should Mahagaba M-75 for 1 month(only at night) have to be taken for 1 complete month.
Brief Answer:
Herpes zoster; PHN may take months
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I am Dr, Kakkar. I have gone through your query and I have understood it
Herpes Zoster is a painful eruption of fluid filled vesicles in a stripe like pattern, across the body, with a sharp mid-line cut-off.
The pain is due to nerve involvement and can be burning, stabbing, shooting type in character. While the lesions resolve but pain may sometimes persist for months, specially in those over 50 years of age. This is known as Post Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN) and is a common complication of Herpes Zoster.
Early initiation of antiviral therapy (within 72 hours) minimizes this complication; I noticed that there was a delay in starting specific antiviral therapy.
Treatment with antivirals (acyclovir) usually dries up fluid filled lesions within 7-10 days.
However, pain may persist and may take 1-3 months or even longer, though with treatment it would be within tolerable limits and he would be able to carry out his daily routine.
Since, pain is specially severe during early part of the episode, therefore, In my practice I usually start my patients on Ibuprofen+paracetamol combination, twice Or thrice daily.
It is usually effective in bringing down the severity. It can be continued according to the severity of pain, twice or thrice daily for 2 weeks.
Tricyclic antidepressants like Amitryptyline, can be added for PHN as well; The dosage varies according to the severity and can be titrated from once daily to thrice daily dosing, depending on the severity of pain. Your physician will usually decide on the dosing after assessment.
Antiepileptics like carbamzepine, are also known to benefit the nerve pain of herpes zoster.
Pregabalin (mahagaba m-75 is pregabalin) is also useful in Zoster pain. It is usually given twice daily.
Topically he may use an OTC topical antibacterial e.g 2% mupirocin twice daily, to prevent secondary bacterial infection.
The medicines that he has been on are safe, I would suggest that you follow up with the treating doctor regularly.
Your treating doctor will either continue Or modify treatment depending on how the pain responds, he may add or substitute.
Regards
Herpes zoster; PHN may take months
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I am Dr, Kakkar. I have gone through your query and I have understood it
Herpes Zoster is a painful eruption of fluid filled vesicles in a stripe like pattern, across the body, with a sharp mid-line cut-off.
The pain is due to nerve involvement and can be burning, stabbing, shooting type in character. While the lesions resolve but pain may sometimes persist for months, specially in those over 50 years of age. This is known as Post Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN) and is a common complication of Herpes Zoster.
Early initiation of antiviral therapy (within 72 hours) minimizes this complication; I noticed that there was a delay in starting specific antiviral therapy.
Treatment with antivirals (acyclovir) usually dries up fluid filled lesions within 7-10 days.
However, pain may persist and may take 1-3 months or even longer, though with treatment it would be within tolerable limits and he would be able to carry out his daily routine.
Since, pain is specially severe during early part of the episode, therefore, In my practice I usually start my patients on Ibuprofen+paracetamol combination, twice Or thrice daily.
It is usually effective in bringing down the severity. It can be continued according to the severity of pain, twice or thrice daily for 2 weeks.
Tricyclic antidepressants like Amitryptyline, can be added for PHN as well; The dosage varies according to the severity and can be titrated from once daily to thrice daily dosing, depending on the severity of pain. Your physician will usually decide on the dosing after assessment.
Antiepileptics like carbamzepine, are also known to benefit the nerve pain of herpes zoster.
Pregabalin (mahagaba m-75 is pregabalin) is also useful in Zoster pain. It is usually given twice daily.
Topically he may use an OTC topical antibacterial e.g 2% mupirocin twice daily, to prevent secondary bacterial infection.
The medicines that he has been on are safe, I would suggest that you follow up with the treating doctor regularly.
Your treating doctor will either continue Or modify treatment depending on how the pain responds, he may add or substitute.
Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
