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Common Questions
About Pain after Shingles
What is Pain after Shingles?
Pain after Shingles, or Postherpetic Neuralgia (post-her-PET-ik noo-RAL-juh), is also known as PHN. PHN may follow shingles. Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. (This virus is called varicella zoster.) This virus can cause nerve damage. In some people, the nerve damage leads to pain. People with PHN have pain that lasts for 3 or more months after their shingles rash heals.
Pain after Shingles symptoms may include:
- Burning or stabbing pain where the shingles rash had been
- Pain for 3 or more months after having shingles
- Pain from the touch of light clothing or bedsheets
Are certain people more likely to get Pain after Shingles (PHN)?
Anyone who had shingles can get PHN. In the U.S., about 10% to 15% of people who have had shingles get this kind of nerve pain.
PHN is more common in people aged 60 years and older. But you can also get PHN if you are younger. People who fit these descriptions may be a higher risk for developing PHN:
- Had a very bad shingles rash
- Had a lot of pain from shingles
- Felt pain before the shingles rash started
- Have trouble fighting infections (due to a condition such as cancer or an organ transplant)
Is treatment available for PHN?
Yes. There are several treatment choices. LYRICA is the latest approved treatment for PHN.
I want to learn more about PHN. What should I do?
If you think you may have PHN, the best thing to do is to talk to your doctor. The Web sites below may also be helpful.
These Web sites are neither owned nor controlled by Pfizer. Pfizer is not responsible for the content or services on these sites.
American Pain Foundation (APF)
American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)
The Neuropathy Association®
VZV Research Foundation
About LYRICA
What is LYRICA?
LYRICA (LEER-i-kah) is an effective medicine. It can offer relief to many people who have been found to have Diabetic Nerve Pain or Pain after Shingles (SHIN-gulls).
LYRICA was designed just to treat the burning, stabbing, shooting symptoms of nerve pain. When taken as directed, LYRICA can give you pain relief as soon as 1 week after you start taking it. Talk to your doctor. Together, you can decide if LYRICA is right for you.
How does LYRICA work?
LYRICA works within your body to calm the damaged nerves that cause pain. It can reduce the stabbing, burning, and shooting symptoms of Diabetic Nerve Pain or Pain after Shingles.
Damaged nerves can send out extra electrical signals. This causes your body to feel pain. LYRICA lowers the number of electrical signals in the damaged nerves. This can ease the pain.
For what uses is LYRICA approved by the FDA?
LYRICA is approved for use by adult patients (18 years or older). It treats pain from damaged nerves caused by diabetes or Pain after Shingles. It is also approved to treat partial onset seizures when used with other seizure medicines.
When can I expect relief?
Some patients start to feel relief in as soon as 1 week. But everyone is different. Some people may have to give LYRICA more time to work.
Can I take LYRICA with other medicines?
LYRICA and other medicines can affect each other. So be sure to tell your doctor about all the medicines you take. This should include:
- Prescription medicines
- Medicines you take without a prescription
- Vitamins
- Herbal supplements
Keep a list of the products that you take. This will make it easy to show your doctor and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.
How do I take LYRICA?
Your doctor will tell you how much LYRICA you need to take and when to take it. Please follow his or her instructions carefully. You can take LYRICA with or without food. And be sure to keep taking LYRICA even after you start feeling relief from your pain. Plan ahead. Refill your LYRICA prescription so you won’t run out. You should talk with your doctor before you stop taking LYRICA or any other prescription medicine.
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose by a few hours, take it as soon as you remember. If it is too close to your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Just take LYRICA at your next regular time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.
How many people have taken LYRICA?
Over 1 million people worldwide have taken LYRICA.
What should I tell my doctor?
Be sure to tell your doctor if you:
- Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- Plan to father a child
- Take Avandia®* (rosiglitazone), Actos®† (pioglitazone), tranquilizers (such as oxycodone), medicines for anxiety (such as lorazepam) or other prescription medicines
- Take nonprescription medicines or natural/herbal remedies
- Have any change in your eyesight while taking LYRICA
- Have muscle pain along with a tired feeling while taking LYRICA
- Have skin sores due to diabetes
- Have ever had itching, wheezing, hives, or swelling of the throat or face after taking any medicine
- Have any kidney problems
- Have had a drug or alcohol problem in the past
What about side effects?
Like other medicines, LYRICA may cause side effects. The most common side effects of LYRICA are:
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
- Dry mouth
- Swelling of hands and feet
- Blurry vision
- Weight gain
- Trouble concentrating
These side effects were often mild to moderate. Few people in clinical trials stopped taking LYRICA because of the side effects.
Be careful about taking LYRICA with alcohol or with medicines that may make you dizzy or sleepy. You should not drive a car or work with machines until you know how LYRICA affects you.
For a complete list of side effects, see the Patient Product Information for LYRICA.
*Avandia is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.
†Actos is a registered trademark of Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. and used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Co.