What is the quickest way to treat shingles out of all the treatments available?
This article will teach us how to treat shingles quickly.
The fastest way to treat shingles
Before identifying the fastest way to treat shingles , we must know that shingles is a disease that cannot be cured, as all treatment methods that have been reached so far are methods that work to alleviate the symptoms associated with shingles.
As the infection with shingles symptoms may last for a long time, as a person may suffer from shingles symptoms for a period of up to 5 weeks, but the period may be reduced to approximately two weeks if the fastest method of treating shingles is followed.
Now we move on to the fastest way to treat shingles, which is done by using some antiviral drugs, as these drugs work to shorten the duration of shingles infection, as they work to reduce the severity of symptoms, and help to heal the skin quickly, and reduce the risk of infection with some complications ..
These medications are usually most effective when started as soon as possible after the rash appears. These medicines include:
1. Acyclovir
One of the antiviral medications used to treat shingles is acyclovir. It is taken orally for 7 days, but if the patient is unable to swallow the pills or the symptoms are severe and cannot be controlled by medication, it may also be administered intravenously.
2. Valacyclovir
Antiviral medication valacyclovir is taken orally for 7 days to treat shingles. Valacyclovir is more effective than acyclovir in relieving the severity of pain associated with shingles and in reducing the duration of postherpetic neuralgia.
3. Famciclovir
Another antiviral medication, famicyclovir, can be taken orally for seven days to treat shingles quickly.
Other medicines to treat shingles
We must first determine some of the additional medications that can be used to treat shingles symptoms before we can determine the fastest way to treat shingles. Among these medications are the following:
1. Pain relievers
To lessen the intensity of the pain brought on by shingles, some painkillers may be used, such as:
- Paracetamol.
- Ibuprofen.
2. Antidepressants
When symptoms do occur, antidepressants like amitriptyline can relieve nerve pain and help prevent postherpetic neuralgia.
3. Anticonvulsants
Various anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin, are used to relieve nerve pain associated with shingles.
4. Corticosteroids
For brief periods, certain corticosteroid injections, such as Prednisone, are used to treat the symptoms of shingles.
5. Topical anesthetics
Local anaesthetics, such as lidocaine, which can be applied topically in the form of a cream, gel, spray, or adhesive tape to areas affected by rashes, are one of the medications used to treat shingles.
General tips for treating shingles
We must then determine some guidelines that can be followed to shorten the duration of infection with shingles symptoms. Among these guidelines are the following:
- After taking a cool shower, thoroughly dry your body.
- To treat the rash, apply cold, wet compresses to the affected areas.
- applying creams with capsaicin, which has pain-relieving anti-inflammatory properties.
- Use perfume-free skin care products as little as possible.
- Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet high in vitamins to strengthen your body's defences against viruses.
- Eat less of the food and beverages that are high in sugar, arginine, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates.