Welcome to the Shingles Support Society

The Shingles Support Society supplies information on shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN for short): what they are and how to treat them.

(These pages were reviewed on 27 March 2012.)

NEWS:

A vaccine for the prevention of shingles is now available on private prescription. Adults aged 50 and over will be able to have the shingles vaccine (known as Zostavax®▼) on a private basis through their GP, pharmacist or private healthcare provider.

Any registered doctor who believes this vaccine will benefit a patient is able to prescribe it privately and administer it. The one-dose shingles vaccine costs £99.96, which is paid by the patient. GPs caring for NHS-registered patients can write a private prescription for the shingles vaccine. GPs may not supply the vaccine nor charge NHS patients for either the private prescription or for administering the vaccine. (See our links page for a London doctor with the vaccine.) Patients will pay for the vaccine, plus an additional dispensing fee, to a pharmacy. Alternatively, patients may be directed to a pharmacy or other private health provider for shingles vaccination.

Results from the Shingles Prevention Study involving more than 38,000 adults aged 60 and over showed that the shingles vaccine reduced shingles cases by 51%. For the people who went on to develop shingles anyway, the chance that they would develop ‘shingles with severe pain’ was reduced by 73%; the incidence of PHN was 67% down; and pain and discomfort was reduced by 61%. Headache and injection site reactions are the most common side effects of shingles vaccination.

You can download the 'Guidelines for GPs' or to get a paper copy send a donation (at least £2.50 please) for the full 19 page information pack. It includes:

For the GP (patients can take it to the surgery to show their doctors):
- seven pages with details of amitriptyline, gabapentin, lidocaine plasters and capsaicin cream: the dosages, references and a treatment algorithm - provided by a pain consultant

For the patient:
- two page introduction to shingles and PHNtreatments,
- two pages of self-help advice from other sufferers,
- a two-page contact list of names/addresses of other people who'd like to share experiences of shingles,
- information on TENS with the details of manufacturers who'll refund your money if the TENS doesn't help you,
- and more...

You can also buy this information pack at our on-line shop.

People who are blind or partially sighted can receive these leaflets dictated onto a standard cassette: send a donation (at least £2.50 please) or phone 020 7607 9661 to order this with a credit or debit card.

Watch the NHS Choices video about shingles.

Watch a video showing the experiences of people with neuropathic pain to help you understand PHN (with thanks to Understanding Neuropathic Pain by Jose Closs from the University of Leeds).

The Shingles Support Society website has been designed with an unrestricted educational grant from SanofiPasteur MSD.

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Home Frequently Asked Questions News Patients: an introduction to treatment Professional: guidelines for GPs on treating PHN Ideas from other sufferers Help us Testimonials Buy info pack Links		Welcome to the Shingles Support Society The Shingles Support Society supplies information on shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN for short): what they are and how to treat them. (These pages were reviewed on 27 March 2012.) NEWS: A vaccine for the prevention of shingles is now available on private prescription. Adults aged 50 and over will be able to have the shingles vaccine (known as Zostavax®▼) on a private basis through their GP, pharmacist or private healthcare provider. Any registered doctor who believes this vaccine will benefit a patient is able to prescribe it privately and administer it. The one-dose shingles vaccine costs £99.96, which is paid by the patient. GPs caring for NHS-registered patients can write a private prescription for the shingles vaccine. GPs may not supply the vaccine nor charge NHS patients for either the private prescription or for administering the vaccine. (See our links page for a London doctor with the vaccine.) Patients will pay for the vaccine, plus an additional dispensing fee, to a pharmacy. Alternatively, patients may be directed to a pharmacy or other private health provider for shingles vaccination. Results from the Shingles Prevention Study involving more than 38,000 adults aged 60 and over showed that the shingles vaccine reduced shingles cases by 51%. For the people who went on to develop shingles anyway, the chance that they would develop ‘shingles with severe pain’ was reduced by 73%; the incidence of PHN was 67% down; and pain and discomfort was reduced by 61%. Headache and injection site reactions are the most common side effects of shingles vaccination. You can download the 'Guidelines for GPs' or to get a paper copy send a donation (at least £2.50 please) for the full 19 page information pack. It includes: For the GP (patients can take it to the surgery to show their doctors): - seven pages with details of amitriptyline, gabapentin, lidocaine plasters and capsaicin cream: the dosages, references and a treatment algorithm - provided by a pain consultant For the patient: - two page introduction to shingles and PHNtreatments, - two pages of self-help advice from other sufferers, - a two-page contact list of names/addresses of other people who'd like to share experiences of shingles, - information on TENS with the details of manufacturers who'll refund your money if the TENS doesn't help you, - and more... You can also buy this information pack at our on-line shop. People who are blind or partially sighted can receive these leaflets dictated onto a standard cassette: send a donation (at least £2.50 please) or phone 020 7607 9661 to order this with a credit or debit card. Watch the NHS Choices video about shingles. Watch a video showing the experiences of people with neuropathic pain to help you understand PHN (with thanks to Understanding Neuropathic Pain by Jose Closs from the University of Leeds). The Shingles Support Society website has been designed with an unrestricted educational grant from SanofiPasteur MSD. » Email this page