Diagnosis and Treatment Concerns of Postherpetic Neuralgia

The panelists turn their attention to postherpetic neuralgia and the treatment options.

Calling it a “disabling horribly painful condition,” Charles Argoff, MD, says that while pharmacotherapy can be, “very, very helpful,” the treatment of taking medication multiple times a day is not ideal for patients.

Argoff says that while the US Food and Drug Administration suggests 1800mg of gabapentin studies have shown that most patients only receive half the dosage.

“Would half the dose of a chemotherapeutic agent be expected to help the person with cancer, half the dose of the antihypertensive,” he says.