Shingles: Treatment
The goal of treatment is to shorten the duration of the eruptive stage, relieve discomfort, reduce the duration of the chronic stage and speed the healing of blisters.

Antiviral medications are typically prescribed during the early stages of a shingles infection, in fact, the earlier the better. While these medications do not relieve postherpetic neuralgia, they can decrease the likelihood of developing this chronic pain symptom or at least shorten the duration of symptoms. Research studies suggest that taking tricyclic antidepressants also lessens the risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia after shingles and sometimes doctors prescribe both antivirals and tricyclics.

To relieve the itching and pain of shingles, you can try:

• Applying calamine lotion to the blisters
• Applying cool, moist compresses
• Soaking in a tub with cornstarch or oatmeal

It is important not to scratch the blisters. Scratching can result in infection and can also help to spread the rash.