Topical (S)-ketamine for pain management of postherpetic neuralgia

Topical (S)-ketamine for pain management of postherpetic neuralgia.

Herpes zoster infection may cause postherpetic neuralgia, which is defined by prolonged pain predominantly mediated by central nervous system hypersensitivity. This phenomenon may be reversed by (S)-ketamine (SKET), but its use results in intolerable side effects, while its topical administration seems to be safe. It is a cross-over design study with 12 patients randomly divided into two groups...

Postherpetic neuralgia: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and pain management pharmacology

Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is a distinctive clinical condition caused by the reactivation of latent varicella zoster (chickenpox) virus following an initial infection. Approximately 1 million cases of herpes zoster occur annually in the US, and one in every three people develops herpes zoster during their lifetime. Postherpetic neuralgia is a neuropathic pain syndrome characterized ...

The management of postherpetic neuralgia.

Postherpetic neuralgia is defined as pain persisting, or recurring, at the site of shingles at least three months after the onset of the acute rash. Thus defined, at least half of shingles sufferers over the age of 65 years develop postherpetic neuralgia. In addition to increasing age, less important risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia are pain severity of acute shingles and trigeminal dist...

Recommendations for the Management of Postherpetic Neuralgia

These recommendations from the Multidisciplinary Panel on Neuropathic Pain provide an update of the recommendations first published in 2003. The current recommendations include new data on pharmacological and nonpharmacological strategies for the management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). The Recommendations for the Management of Postherpetic Neuralgia are the product of review and appraisal o...

Postherpetic neuralgia.