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Hanging out your Shingle(s)

First, let’s talk about Vaccines. Zostavax and Shingrix are vaccines for adults 50 years of age and older which boost your immune system against the shingles virus. These vaccines are preventative and NOT treatments for Shingles or associated nerve pain.

So what if you already have shingles and the neuropathy (nerve pain) associated with it?

There are some options for pain relief. Bear in mind that neuropathic pain can be quite challenging to treat because not all people will benefit from a specific treatment. The most successful treatments, according to some recent studies, are a combination of therapies including prescription medication and nutritional support.

For example, a common prescription treatment for neuropathic pain is gabapentin. Unfortunately the dosage needed for effective pain relief may cause drowsiness or dizziness. The good news is Pharmasave Summerland can compound a gabapentin topical cream which may provide you with the pain relieving benefits of gabapentin without the unwanted side effects of an orally administered drug.

A nutritional complement to drug therapy might include alpha lipoic acid which has been shown to improve neuropathy symptoms like pain, burning and tingling. The amino acid acetyl-L-carnitine has also been clinically shown to have a positive effect on neuropathic pain.

I encourage you to make an appointment for a consultation with one of the Live Well Pharmacists at Pharmasave Summerland and explore options to help you manage pain caused by shingles.

If you haven’t developed Shingles (which is the same virus that causes chicken pox in children) you may consider the Zostavax or Shingrix vaccinations. By preventing shingles with a vaccination, you may avoid the related pain and discomfort. Our pharmacists can administer these vaccines in store.

Speak to the Live Well Team at Pharmasave Summerland today about how you can treat and/or avoid neuropathic pain.

Dan Cassidy, Nutritional Product Advisor (Registered)

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