Oral acyclovir in herpes zoster.
Forty-one patients with herpes zoster were treated with acyclovir or placebo at a dosage of 400 mg five times a day by mouth for five days in a double-blind randomized domiciliary study. Acyclovir was shown to reduce the days of new lesion formation within the effected dermatome after day 0 (P = 0.049). No other statistical difference was demonstrated between the two groups although the trends for new lesion formation outside the dermatome, full crusting, involution and diminution of acute pain all favoured acyclovir.
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010919:Placebos; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors
D010919:Placebos; D000212:Acyclovir