Acyclovir and post-herpetic neuralgia and ocular involvement

Herpes zoster infection is a common clinical problem in elderly people. Three of the consequences of such infection are acute rash, post-herpetic neuralgia, and, for those with trigeminal infection, ocular complications. Post-herpetic neuralgia is a severe, prolonged, debilitating complication with no known effective treatment. Acyclovir treats acute rash,*RF 1-4* but its role in preventing post-herpetic neuralgia and ocular complications remains controversial. These complications can be severe and sight threatening and can require prolonged treatment. Topical acyclovir has been shown to be beneficial when given prophylactically and in established cases.5 We examined whether high oral doses of acyclovir (800 mg five times a day for seven days) have a beneficial effect on post-herpetic neuralgia and reduce ocular involvement in the long term. Of the …