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Acyclovir has been shown to be of clinical benefit in the treatment of acute herpes zoster when given for 7 to 10 days. Studies of its effectiveness in preventing postherpetic neuralgia, however, have produced conflicting results. Similarly, the use of corticosteroids as treatment for herpes zoster is extremely controversial.
To address both of these issues, British investigators performed a double-blind controlled trial in patients with acute herpes zoster to determine whether a longer course of acyclovir therapy (21 days) or the addition of prednisolone offers any improvement over one week of acyclovir therapy. Patients with a herpes zoster eruption of less than 3 days duration with at least moderate pain were randomized to receive acyclov…