What is the best medical treatment for shingles?

Several antiviral medicines—acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir—are available to treat shingles and shorten the length and severity of the illness. These medicines are most effective if you start taking them as soon as possible after the rash appears.

Can naturopath help with shingles?

Naturopathic Options Intravenous vitamin C therapy is a mainstay of treatment for shingles in the naturopathic community. This vitamin is often depleted in viral infections which may play a role in the progression of the infection as well as in the development of post-herpetic neuralgia.

What is the best antihistamine for shingles?

Antihistamines: An oral antihistamine such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) may ease itching (but also causes drowsiness, so don’t take it when you need to be focused or drive). You also might try a topical antihistamine. 9 For instance, Benadryl comes as a spray, cream, or stick for applying directly to the skin.

How long should you take antivirals for shingles?

Antiviral treatment typically lasts for one week. Pain medications — The pain related to shingles can be severe, and medications are frequently needed.

Are bananas good for shingles?

Stress-balancing Bs are vital to a shingles diet since the virus tinkers with nerve endings causing severe pain. Get cracking with eggs of all manners, along with milk and chicken, packed with B12s, while bananas, brewer’s yeast and potatoes have an abundance of calming B6s.

Does Benadryl help shingles?

To help with the pain of shingles, your doctor might have you take an over-the-counter pain medicine. This could include acetaminophen (one brand: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (two brands: Motrin, Advil). Applying a medicated anti-itch lotion (two brands: Benadryl, Caladryl) to the blisters might reduce the pain and itching.

Can I eat eggs if I have shingles?

Patients with shingles infection or lesions should avoid excess arginine (an amino acid) in their diet. Food sources of arginine to avoid include nuts and seeds, beans and lentils, soybeans and tofu, gelatin, canned tuna, chicken, egg, whole grain wheat flour, raw garlic and onion, and chocolate syrup.

What happens if you let shingles go untreated?

If left untreated, some complications of shingles can be fatal. Pneumonia, encephalitis, stroke, and bacterial infections can cause your body to go into shock or sepsis.

Is apple cider vinegar good for shingles?

Apple cider vinegar is a home remedy for shingles pain that’s often recommended online. Although ACV has some antiviral properties, there’s no evidence to suggest that it can help relieve the pain or itching associated with the shingles rash.

Can vitamin B12 help shingles?

Vitamin B12 injections may relieve the symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia. Some doctors have observed that injections of vitamin B12 appear to relieve the symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia. However, since these studies did not include a control group, the possibility of a placebo effect cannot be ruled out.

How do you know when shingles are gone?

The blisters will scab over and begin to heal, which takes from 1 to 3 weeks, unless the rash is on your scalp in which case it can take several months. As they heal, the blisters become smaller and less painful, generally over a period of 3 to 5 weeks.

What foods make shingles worse?

Foods to avoid with shingles

• candies and sweets.
• cakes and baked goods.
• sugary drinks.
• sugary cereals.
• sugary sauces.
• ice cream.
• white bread.
• white rice.

How are shingles treated at the Mayo Clinic?

Shingles 1 Diagnosis. Shingles is usually diagnosed based on the history of pain on one side of your body,… 2 Treatment. There’s no cure for shingles, but prompt treatment with prescription antiviral drugs can… 3 Lifestyle and home remedies. Taking a cool bath or using cool,… 4 Preparing for your appointment.

What can a doctor do for shingles blisters?

Your doctor may also take a tissue scraping or culture of the blisters for examination in the laboratory. There’s no cure for shingles, but prompt treatment with prescription antiviral drugs can speed healing and reduce your risk of complications. These medications include: Shingles can cause severe pain, so your doctor also may prescribe:

How can I get rid of the pain from shingles?

The itching can be maddening at times, but try not to scratch or burst the blisters. Ask your doctor about creams and other things you can try to give yourself some relief. Some people find that acupuncture and other complementary treatments help with the pain that can linger after shingles.

Are there any over the counter medicine for shingles?

Your doctor can suggest over-the-counter medicines to relieve milder discomfort. They include: These may also help you stave off postherpetic neuralgia, which is a burning pain that some people get after the rash and blisters of shingles go away.