title: Clinical inquiries: What measures relieve postherpetic neuralgia?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Mountain Area Health Education Center, Asheville, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garroway
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chhabra
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landis
authors.forename: Deborah C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Skolnik
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D008012:Lidocaine; D002211:Capsaicin