Clinical inquiries: What measures relieve postherpetic neuralgia?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin, and pregabalin effectively reduce pain. Opioids have demonstrated pain relief in 3 RCTs. Capsaicin and the lidocaine 5% patch relieve pain and decrease allodynia.
Garroway
Neil
N
Mountain Area Health Education Center, Asheville, NC, USA.
Chhabra
Shalini
S
Landis
Suzanne
S
Skolnik
Deborah C
DC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D008012:Lidocaine; D002211:Capsaicin