Shingles disease treatment, reactivation, and pain relief by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Shingles symptoms reduction

Shingles is a disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After an attack of chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in certain nerve tissue. As people age, it is possible for the virus to reappear in the form of shingles, which is estimated to affect 2 in every 10 people in their lifetime. Shingles is characterized by clusters of blisters, which develop on one side of the body and can cause severe pain that may last for weeks, months or years after the virus reappears. For more research in the area of natural shingles prevention or treatment, particularly with natural supplements, consider signing up to a free email newsletter medicine.

Reactivation
Shingles can begin due to the aging process, due to trauma or from stress which interferes with the proper functioning of the immune system.

Risk for stroke
People who have had an attack of shingles involving the eyes may have a heightened risk of stroke for a year afterward. Neurology, online March 3, 2010.

Zostavax Shingles Vaccine
In May, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration licensed Zostavax, a new vaccine to reduce the risk of shingles (herpes zoster) for use in people 60 years of age and older. Zostavax is manufactured by Merck & Co., Inc., of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Zostavax, a live virus vaccine, was shown to boost immunity against varicella-zoster virus. This is thought to be the mechanism by which the vaccine protects against zoster and its complications. The vaccine is given as a single injection under the skin, preferably in the upper arm. Zostavax was studied in approximately 38,000 individuals throughout the United States who were 60 years of age and older. Of these 38,000 people, half received Zostavax and half received a placebo. All study participants were then followed for an average of three years to see if they developed shingles and, if they did, how long the pain lasted. At the conclusion of the study, researchers found that, overall, in those ages 60 and above the vaccine reduced the occurrence of shingles by about 50%. For individuals ages 60-69 it reduced occurrence by 64%. In addition to preventing approximately half of the cases, the duration of pain following the onset of shingles was slightly reduced in people who developed the disease–despite being vaccinated with Zostavax.

May 16, 2008 -- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that people aged 60 and older should be vaccinated against shingles, or herpes zoster, via the herpes zoster virus vaccine, Zostavax.

November 2009 - Children who get vaccinated against chickenpox may have a lower risk of developing shingles, a painful rash caused by the chickenpox virus. Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal, December 2009.

Zostavax side effects

The most common side effects in people who received Zostavax were redness, pain and tenderness, swelling at the site of injection, itching and headache. The percent of significant adverse events observed in the study were not different between persons who received the vaccine versus placebo.

   As part of the development program, a smaller study was conducted to look more closely at safety. In this smaller study, serious adverse events for all age groups were noted more frequently in those who received Zostavax (1.9%) than those who received placebo (1.3%). Although FDA has concluded that the available data do not establish that these events are related to the vaccine, the manufacturer will perform a Phase 4 (postmarket) study to provide additional safety information.

Pain medication
Shingles pain can stop people from working, or enjoying their hobbies, and it can also make some people depressed or anxious. Dr. Robert Dworkin, from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York, evaluated the pain-relieving potential of oxycodone and gabapentin, which both effectively treat pain associated with nerve damage. Those taking oxycodone were more than twice as likely to experience a meaningful reduction in their pain - at least a 30 percent decrease - compared to their counterparts taking a placebo. Though the medication was effective, nearly one-third of the participants on oxycodone withdrew from the study, mainly because of problems with constipation. This pain medication can also cause nausea and vomiting. Dr. Robert Dworkin found that gabapentin was not effective for pain relief. Pain, April 2009.

Emails received
I just wanted to write and let you know that I used apple cider vinegar orally and topically to cure my very painful shingles! I didn't realize that I had shingles until it was too late to take the prescribed medicine so I searched for a natural cure. I found MANY sites that claimed that ACV cures shingles and gets rid of the pain. I figured I had nothing to lose and was in a lot of pain at this point (I am 37 and my shingles were on my ribs about 3 inches under my arm pit). At the point that I decided to use the apple cider vinegar, my bumps had just started to appear but had not yet blistered. I read that shingles usually lasts 5-6 weeks and then the pain can persist for months after the bumps have healed. I began by soaking a gauze pad in the ACV and taped it directly over my bumps. It did sting at first but then I felt immediate relief from the searing and burning pain I had been having for the week prior. I changed the dressing 3times a day and also took ACV capsules orally 3 times a day (4 pills each time). By the next day, the bumps had formed blisters and by the following day, most had popped and were starting to scab over. WIthin 1 week, the bumps were completely flat and the pain/itching was gone. I am still taking the ACV orally and you can still see some of the bumps but there is NO PAIN. I just wanted to let you know so that you can let others know that apple cider vinegar DOES cure shingles even faster than the medicine that Drs typically prescribe!