On Dec. 7, 2010 I was diagnosed with shingles and began taking acyclovir 5 times a day. I am still taking it. I saw the nurse practioner who said I should take the medication as long as I had the tingling senstion at the site. I did not get in to see her within the 72 hour window that is recommended but I did get in before the blisters appeared which did appear 3 days after beginning acyclovir. I am still having some tingling sensations and sometimes bee sting like pain 2 or 3 times a day. Should I stop taking acyclovir and consider this the phantom pain that sometimes remains after shingles? Will these twinges get worse if I stop the medication?
Should I continue to take Acyclovir for shingles?
Question posted by kwmc on 30 Dec 2010
Last updated on 15 August 2018
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Answers
southerner15
29 Dec 2017
I know this is an old post, but my concern is a NP who would prescribe Acyclovir before you broke out. I saw my doctor the day before I broke out due to intense left trunk pain—thought I may have a kidney stone. Answer to my problem was obvious the next morning when I awoke broken out. Got shingles confirmed and started Acyclovir then.
vls1231
15 Aug 2018
Oh my goodness, the same thing happened to me. I had severe pain on my left side I thought was muscle or some sort of damage to my ribs, felt like a knife was in my side, I would touch my ribs and no pain but it was deep inside, I couldn't sleep on that side and 4 days later I have a rash on my back, it's not super big, just the size of my palm, I started the acyclovir the very next day due to I had some on hand. I find putting anti itch cream on the rash and using the stuff you would put into your mouth for cancer sores helps.
Marvell
13 Feb 2011
In situations like this it is best to follow your nurse practitioners advise and keep on taking the acyclovir as long you have the tingling sensation.
It's better to continue treatment to avoid having another episode.
Related topics
Further information
- Acyclovir uses and safety info
- Acyclovir prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Acyclovir (detailed)
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