title: The effects of pre-emptive treatment of postherpetic neuralgia with amitriptyline: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: Seventy-two patients older than 60 years of age who received a diagnosis of herpes zoster (HZ) were entered into a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of daily amitriptyline 25 mg. Treatment with either amitriptyline or placebo continued for 90 days after diagnosis. Pain prevalence at 6 months was the primary outcome. Results showed that early treatment with low-dose amitriptyline reduced pain prevalence by more than one-half (p < 0.05; odds ratio, 2.9:1) This finding makes a strong case for the pre-emptive administration of amitriptyline, in combination with an antiviral drug, to elderly patients with acute herpes zoster.
authors.affiliation: Pain Research Institute, Walton Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bowsher
mesh_terms: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000639:Amitriptyline