Introduction

Understanding Pain After
Shingles & Symptoms

Diagnosing Pain After Shingles

Treating Pain After Shingles

Relieving Pain After Shingles
With LYRICA

Talking to Your Doctor

LYRICA ANSWERS: Helping You
Get the Most From Treatment

Finding Pain Relief With LYRICA

How to Take LYRICA

Understanding Potential
Side Effects

Managing Your Condition

Partnering With Your Doctor

Important Safety Information | Medication Guide | Full Prescribing Information
Frequently Asked Questions | Site Map | Request More LYRICA Information

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Diagnosing Pain After Shingles

Diagnosing pain after shingles is relatively simple

Because shingles is not a rare condition, your doctor may be familiar with its diagnosis. Your doctor may also be familiar with pain after shingles, a complication of the condition.

How shingles is diagnosed

Your doctor will ask about your pain history and perform a physical exam. For most people with shingles, a rash and blisters will form along the chest or back. This rash is often accompanied by pain. Your doctor may take a scraping or culture of these blisters for lab tests. But many shingles cases can be diagnosed without such tests.

Pain after 3 months has passed

For many people with pain after shingles, the pain goes away with the rash. But for others, it persists. If you are still in pain 3 months after your rash has gone away, you may have pain after shingles.

How pain after shingles is diagnosed

If you have had shingles, and your doctor knows this, pain after shingles is easy to diagnose. No tests are usually necessary. The pain will generally be felt in the same places the shingles rash appeared.

You may not have to live with pain after shingles because treatments are available for this pain. Find out more on the next page.

Learn more: Treating Pain After Shingles

LYRICA is indicated to treat fibromyalgia, diabetic nerve pain, and pain after shingles. LYRICA is also indicated to treat partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy who take 1 or more drugs for seizures.

Important Safety Information

LYRICA is not for everyone. LYRICA may cause serious, even life threatening, allergic reactions. Stop taking LYRICA and call your doctor right away if you have any signs of a serious allergic reaction. Some signs are swelling of your face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, throat or neck or if you have any trouble breathing, or have a rash, hives or blisters.

Drugs used to treat seizures increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. LYRICA may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call your doctor right away if you have new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, do not stop LYRICA without first talking to your doctor.

LYRICA may cause swelling of your hands, legs and feet, which can be serious for people with heart problems. LYRICA may cause dizziness and sleepiness. You should not drive or work with machines until you know how LYRICA affects you. Also, tell your doctor right away about muscle pain or problems along with feeling sick and feverish, or any changes in your eyesight including blurry vision or if you have any kidney problems or get dialysis.

Some of the most common side effects of LYRICA are dizziness, blurry vision, weight gain, sleepiness, trouble concentrating, swelling of your hands and feet, dry mouth, and feeling "high." If you have diabetes, tell your doctor about any skin sores.

You may have a higher chance for swelling and hives if you are also taking angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors so tell your doctor if you are taking these medications. You may have a higher chance of swelling of your hands or feet or gaining weight if you are also taking certain diabetes medicines. Do not drink alcohol while on LYRICA. You may have a higher chance for dizziness and sleepiness if you take LYRICA with alcohol, narcotic pain medicines, or medicines for anxiety.

Before you start LYRICA, tell your doctor if you are planning to father a child, or if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you have had a drug or alcohol problem, you may be more likely to misuse LYRICA.

In studies, a specific type of blood vessel tumor was seen in mice, but not in rats. The meaning of these findings in humans is not known.

Do not stop taking LYRICA without talking to your doctor. If you stop suddenly you may have headaches, nausea, diarrhea or trouble sleeping and if you have epilepsy, you may have seizures more often.

View the Medication Guide

View the Full Prescribing Information

The product information provided in this site is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries.

The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.