Safety and Effectiveness of Venlafaxine to Prevent Postherpetic Neuralgia in Adults with Acute Herpes Zoster

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the use of venlafaxine, an oral medication, to prevent postherpetic neuralgia PHN, a common and challenging complication of herpes zoster HZ characterized by chronic pain. The study aims to assess whether venlafaxine, given early during acute HZ pain, can reduce the risk of developing PHN and improve quality of life. This trial is sponsored by Beijing Tiantan Hospital and focuses on adults with recent onset of HZ rash and moderate to severe pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one receiving venlafaxine combined with conventional therapy, and the other receiving conventional therapy alone. Venlafaxine will start at 75 mg once daily and may be adjusted based on pain and tolerance during the first 90 days after rash onset. Conventional therapy includes standard analgesics, antiviral drugs, and other treatments recommended for HZ. After 90 days, both groups will receive standardized treatment for any persistent PHN pain, including various guideline-based medications and topical agents. During the study, participants will have their pain intensity, pain reduction, analgesic use, illness severity, quality of life, sleep quality, and neuropathic pain measured at multiple time points up to one year. Safety will be monitored throughout the study duration, which averages 52 weeks. The primary outcome is the incidence of PHN at 90 days after rash onset. Researchers will use these assessments to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of venlafaxine in preventing PHN among adults with acute HZ pain.

The Analgesic Efficacy and Safety of Venlafaxine for Prevention of Postherpetic Neuralgia in Patients With Acute Herpes Zoster