How effective is Acyclovir for shingles?
The use of acyclovir for the treatment of shingles was approved by US food and drug administration and other health agencies around the world. The drug is generally considered to be very effective in reducing pain and the duration of shingles, but in all cases it is not quite effective. The use of acycloviru for shingles should begin as soon as the symptoms are recorded, as efficiency is rapidly reduced after 72 hours after the beginning of symptoms. In some cases, acyclovir may be more effective in treating older individuals, which means those who are over 60 years of age than younger patients.
Acyclovir for shingles is one of the most studied treatment in the world for this disease. While other variations of antivirus drugs come, which have taken part of its popularity, the drug is still considered a good standard for use. It can be administered intravenously and orally. To be the most effective, the drug must be administered by patients' times a day, which includes up to five times a day for oral administration and three times for intraventhe submission.
The main advantage of using acyclovir for shingles is that it reduces the pain associated with disease. This advantage seems to be something older patients have noticed more than younger patients. As already mentioned, the severity of pain is generally greater in older patients suffering from shingles. This could therefore explain why this particular age group reported less pain with drug treatment.
One of the other advantages of acyclovir for shingles is that it reduces the overall duration of the focus. This is mainly due to the growth of new lesions, which would then have to clean their course before. Less lesions may also be one of the reasons why less pain occurs when drug use.
Studiesalso indicate that the use of acyclovirus for shingles along with another type of drug can even be more efficient. If corticosteroid is administered together with acyclovir, the patient's report may be significantly reducedEna. Some studies reported contradictory results in the use of corticosteroids themselves to treat shingles.
While the benefits of acyclovirus in the fight against shingle focus are generally clear, the drug can be uncomfortable and has side effects. Acyclovir must be administered at least three times a day and sometimes up to five times in 24 hours. The risks of acycloviru include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and headaches. If the symptoms persist, patients should contact their physicians to see if they should continue taking medication.