Re: Herpes zoster infection. Do we really need to consider Oxycodone?
I was saddened to read the suggestion of using Oxycodone for post herpetic pain. This is at a time when we are recognising the iatrogenic epidemic of narcotic addiction. In the UK I think Oxycodone is still not used to the extent that it is in the USA. I personally have never yet met a patient with post herpetic pain in whom I felt the need to narcotics beyond short term codeine. My understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic pain is that early neuropathic pain management (with traditionally triclcylics) may prevent the development of chronicity whereas narcotics are likely to have the opposite effect.
Rapid Response:
Re: Herpes zoster infection. Do we really need to consider Oxycodone?
I was saddened to read the suggestion of using Oxycodone for post herpetic pain. This is at a time when we are recognising the iatrogenic epidemic of narcotic addiction. In the UK I think Oxycodone is still not used to the extent that it is in the USA. I personally have never yet met a patient with post herpetic pain in whom I felt the need to narcotics beyond short term codeine. My understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic pain is that early neuropathic pain management (with traditionally triclcylics) may prevent the development of chronicity whereas narcotics are likely to have the opposite effect.
Competing interests: No competing interests