Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common and feared complication of herpes zoster. The more severe and painful the initial zoster outbreak, the more likely that PHN will develop, with elderly patients being at greatest risk. There are no proven treatments that have a large impact in reducing the risk of PHN. Tricyclic antidepressants are the mainstay of treatment for established PHN, aided by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, physical therapy techniques, and cautious use of other medications. Topical agents, such as capsaicin, aspirin, and lidocaine, may soon become one of the mainstays of therapy for PHN.