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

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

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Understanding Pain After Shingles & Symptoms

A complication of a very common condition

Pain after shingles, or postherpetic neuralgia (post-her-PET-ik-noo-RAL-juh), is a common complication of shingles. Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. The same virus causes chickenpox. If you have shingles, the virus has probably been in your body since you were a child but has remained dormant.

It may seem strange that a virus could lay dormant in your body for decades. But that’s just what this virus does. And it is pretty common. In fact, nearly 1 million Americans get shingles every year. And nearly 1 in 3 people over the age of 60 will get shingles in their lifetime.

Shingles can be treated or even prevented.

There are vaccines that may prevent shingles. And if you get shingles, antiviral drug treatments may shorten the span of the rash.

Shingles can cause long-lasting pain

One in three people over the age of 60 will develop shingles in their lifetime. Shingles symptoms start with a blistering painful rash. This rash usually forms on the chest or back. The rash will go away in time. But once it is gone, you may still experience the burning, stabbing, shooting symptoms of nerve pain caused by shingles.

About 20% of people who get shingles will experience long-lasting pain afterwards.

When the pain doesn’t go away

Some form of pain often accompanies the shingles rash. When that pain persists for more than 3 months after the rash is gone, it’s called pain after shingles. In certain severe cases, this pain can lead to insomnia, weight loss, depression, and disability.

The pain can vary from person to person

Here are some common symptoms:

Burning pain
Stabbing pain
Pain that feels like an electric shock
Shooting pain where the shingles rash used to be
Pain from the light touch of clothing or bed sheets

Many ways to describe the pain

Some people experience mild pain with shingles or they simply feel itchy. For others, the pain is intense and the gentlest touch can be excruciating. But when does the pain of shingles become pain after shingles?

Learn more: Diagnosing 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.