The effects of pre-emptive treatment of postherpetic neuralgia with amitriptyline: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Seventy-two patients older than GO years of age who received a diagnosis of herpes tester (HZ) were entered into a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of daily amitriptyline 25 mg. Treatment with either amitriptyline or placebo continued for 90 days after diagnosis. Pain prevalence at 6 months was the primary outcome. Results showed that early treatment with lour-dose amitriptyline reduced pain prevalence by more than one-half (p < 0.05; odds ratio, 2.9:1) This finding makes a strong case for the pre-emptive administration of amitriptyline, in combination with an a antiviral drug; to elderly patients with acute herpes zoster. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 1997.