title: Incidence of postherpetic neuralgia after combination treatment with gabapentin and valacyclovir in patients with acute herpes zoster: open-label study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of treatment with gabapentin plus valacyclovir hydrochloride for the prevention of postherpetic neuralgia in patients with acute herpes zoster.
  
  
  METHODS
  Uncontrolled, open-label study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A private dermatology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive immunocompetent adults (age, ≥ 50 years) who presented with herpes zoster within 72 hours of vesicle formation with moderate to severe pain (≥ 4 on the 10-point Likert scale) were recruited for study participation. Intervention The patients received 1000 mg of valacylovir hydrochloride 3 times a day for 7 days plus gabapentin at an initial dose of 300 mg/d, titrated up to a maximum of 3600 mg/d, side effects permitting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proportion of patients with zoster pain (pain > 0) at 3, 4, and 6 months as well as average pain severity, the proportion of patients with sleep disturbance, and quality-of-life measures (determined by the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36-Item Health Survey).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 133 patients (mean age, 64.6 years) were enrolled in the study. The overall incidence of zoster pain at 6 months was 9.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of gabapentin and valacyclovir administered acutely in patients with herpes zoster reduces the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01250561.
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Studies, 451 N Texas Ave, Webster, TX 77598, USA. wlapolla@ccstexas.com
authors.forename: Whitney
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lapolla
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Digiorgio
authors.forename: Kassie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haitz
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magel
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grady
authors.forename: Wenzhe
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tyring
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir