Limited value of acyclovir in the treatment of uncomplicated herpes zoster: a placebo-controlled study.

The effect of intravenous acyclovir (at a dosage of 30 mg/kg per day for five days) on uncomplicated herpes zoster was investigated in 51 patients in a double-blind study. Although existing herpes zoster lesions tended to heal more rapidly and new lesions ceased to appear somewhat earlier in the acyclovir group, these differences were not statistically significant. During treatment, patients on acyclovir had significantly lower pain scores than placebo-treated patients. At follow-up, however, there was no difference between the two groups. Complications of herpes zoster occurred only in the placebo groups (generalization in two and keratitis in two cases). With the possible exception of trigeminal zoster or severe pain, acyclovir seems to offer little benefit for immunocompetent patients with herpes zoster.