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Quick Cure for Shingles

It isn't uncommon to suffer from a viral infection. We're each exposed to a myriad of viruses almost every day. Most of the time our bodies are able to fight off these microorganisms, avoiding an illness. But when you're exposed to the varicella-zoster virus, it can sometimes lie dormant in your system for years, activating at a later date in the form of shingles, an infection that causes a painful or burning rash to develop on the skin. If this were to happen to you, treatment is available that can quickly cure this condition.

  1. Antiviral Medications

    • Of all the things you can do to quickly cure shingles, antiviral medications are by far the most effective, so talk to your doctor about getting a prescription as soon as symptoms present themselves. Medical professional are able to prescribe medications like acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir that work well in treating this type of infection. When taken within 72 hours of development, they can not only speed the time it takes to recover from shingles but also lessen the pain associated with the condition. Prescriptions are taken by mouth for the duration of the recommended time frame of treatment.

    Corticosteroids

    • As the antiviral drugs work to remedy the infection of shingles, you'll most likely be prescribed a corticosteroid. Prednisone is by far the most common, but your doctor may decide another steroid is more beneficial to your condition. While this type of medication doesn't necessarily "cure" shingles, it does go a long way to lessen any inflammation, help reduce any associated pain and decrease the chances of complications of the condition such as nerve damage.

    Pain Relief

    • While most people respond favorably to the combination of antiviral medications and corticosteroid drugs, you may suffer from a more debilitating level of pain. In this situation, your doctor will commonly turn to a topical medication containing lidocaine, an anesthetic that is known to relieve pain, or even capsaicin, a natural pain reliever for neuropathic pain. If these products prove to be inadequate, your doctor could decide to use a more aggressive approach to pain management, prescribing an opioid pain reliever. With this form of treatment, a restricted amount of pills are prescribed to avoid dependency or habit-forming behavior.

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