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‘Botox can ease shingles agony’: Anti-wrinkle drug found to be effective treatment of nerve pain

  • Botox found to be effective in treating postherpetic neuralgia
  • It sees nerve pain continue after a shingles rash has healed
  • Nerve drug found to be ‘more effective than anaesthetic lidocaine’

By
Roger Dobson


Published:
16:08 EST, 5 July 2014

|
Updated:
16:08 EST, 5 July 2014

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comments

Jabs of anti-wrinkle drug Botox can ease severe nerve pain triggered by shingles, according to new research.

It was found to be more effective than the anaesthetic lidocaine in treating postherpetic neuralgia – a condition in which extreme nerve pain continues for months or even years after a shingles rash has healed.

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which lies dormant in the nerves following a chickenpox infection.

Shingle treatment: Botox found to be effective in treating postherpetic neuralgia which sees nerve pain continue after a shingles rash has healed

In most cases, the rash and pain lasts two to four weeks, but up to one person in five develops postherpetic neuralgia.

The pain can be intense and has been described as a burning or stabbing sensation, in some cases feeling like an electric shock.

Occasionally there may be the most severe and continuous itching.

Many people with postherpetic neuralgia make a full recovery within a year, but in some cases the nerves do not heal completely and symptoms last for several years or permanently.

While most people respond to medication, including tricyclic antidepressants, anti-epileptic drugs or  opioids to reduce the pain,  40 to 50 per cent do not completely respond.

Better with botox: The nerve drug has been found to be ‘more effective than lidocaine’ in treating the condition, which effects one in five shingles patients

A review of evidence by neurologists at Mount Sinai Medical Center in the US concluded botulinum toxin can be highly effective. It is thought to work by blocking the release of chemicals which are involved in the nerve transmission of pain.

In a study at the Guangdong Medical School in China, 60 patients were injected with either Botox, lidocaine or a dummy saline solution.

In the next few days, pain dropped more significantly in the Botox group compared with the others.

‘The long-lasting effects were accompanied by a low incidence of side effects.  The only significant side effect was the pain of the injections in a few people,’ said the researchers.

Dr Nicholas Silver, consultant neurologist at the Walton Centre in Liverpool, said: ‘These studies are highly promising.’

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Comments (19)

what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

Lipblips,

Houston,

1 hour ago

Try calendula lotion or cream and witch hazel, especially for shingles’ severe itching. Splash on witch hazel and let it dry. Then add the calendula. Calendula also helps healing opened skin from itching and fading shingles’scars. Whole Foods and other health stores have it.

Budgie,

Norwich, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

I don’t know how but I got shingles in the eye. Three weeks in hospital, numerous injections into the eyeball and monthly treatment for two years has seen the infection restricted to one eye. But I have lost most of my sight in that eye. I had chicken pox as a youngster around 60 years ago.

minna,

Merced, United States,

11 minutes ago

I had shingles on my back and it was so painful. I can’t imagine how awful it would be to have it in your eye. Poor sweetie…

klresident,

Ampang Kuala Lumpur,

1 hour ago

Try acupuncture, it worked for my case of shingles, when the other treatments did not help.

Queen Delevingne,

Super Cool, Antarctica,

3 hours ago

just seems like an excuse a woman might use to get plastic surgery. ugh.

Thewishingwell,

Woodland Park, United Kingdom,

2 hours ago

If you had severe nerve pain, I doubt you’d make that assumption.

null,

5 hours ago

TMJ sufferers can also benefit

william,

Bristol, United Kingdom,

3 hours ago

But it is not easy or even possible to get treatment for TMJ in the UK, I don’t think my doctor even knows what it is, I have tried for many years, the olytime I had some help was on during a stay in Australia.

erica,

san antonio,

5 hours ago

This is old news.

BeeGee,

Georgia, United States,

6 hours ago

I have horrible back pain from shingles which has lasted more than 3 years. I’m so desperate for relief I would try this in a heart beat. It can’t be worse than the shots that I get now.

2 of 3 replies

Eiffle Tower,

Central Florida, United States,

3 hours ago

smoke pot

klresident,

Ampang Kuala Lumpur,

1 hour ago

You should really try acupuncture, I had terrible shingles in my fac which resulted in paralysis on one side, but the acupuncture relieved my pain, tinnitus and paralysis went away. Do give it a try.

Danton,

London, United Kingdom,

6 hours ago

Botox can ease shingles agony…. I am not surprised. Botox is the most lethal poison on the planet. Botulinum toxin is a protein and neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is the most acutely lethal toxin known

emma_enchanted,

Nottingham,

6 hours ago

This isn’t new. Botox has been used for years to treat both muscular and neuropathic pain. It works particularly well in trigeminal neuralgia patients.

June,

Wiltshire, United Kingdom,

6 hours ago

I have botox injections for hemi-facial spasm. I think you will find it was used medically long before it was used as a beauty product.

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