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Shingles

Frequently Asked Questions

16. What treatments are there for shingles?

You get shingles when the chickenpox virus reactivates in your nerve cells, which causes nerve damage. Antiviral medication weakens the virus and may reduce the severity of the nerve damage. At the early stage of shingles, a healthcare provider will usually prescribe antiviral pills along with painkillers. (Answer continues on next page.)