I have a medical question?

does anybody know of any over the counter or home remedies for shingles?
Answer:
Taking aciclovir in the first 2 days reduces the chance of permanent nerve pain from shingles. In the UK you need a presecription for this drug orally. Otherwise pain killers and time will see the infection pass.

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NSAIDS, such as Advil, may help with pain. Capsaicin (Zostrix) cream provides limited benefits and is used only after the blisters have dried completely and are falling off. The drawbacks are that this may take up to 6 weeks for the full effect and some do not find it effective at all. Your best bet is to put yourself under the care of a physician for more effective prescription therapy.

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Watch putting anything on the affected skin that may casue worse skin iritation or breakdown, this could make it worse.Carsaicin cream derived from hot peppers was first used successfully to treat shingles pain before being applied to other types of pain as well. If the pain is unrelenting a doc may prescribe neuromodulatory meds like tricyclics.

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Shingles is caused by the reactivation of chicken pox when your immune system is compromised, usually in old adults, people with organ transplants, AIDS, are on immunosuppressive therapy, etc. Best treatment is to improve your immune system if possible. If you are young, without any immune suppression, and show up with shingles, I would get an HIV test as this is most often the reason for your shingles.

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Calamine lotion. Oatmeal.

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