Treatment of acute pain after shingles with vitamin D cream

Treatment of acute herpes zoster neuralgia with high potency vitamin D cream

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phases

Phase 1

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12609001014246

Enrollment

Registered

2009-11-23

Start date

2010-01-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

Vitamin D is able to treat viral infections. As such a high potency vitamin D cream could also be useful in the treatment of the acute viral reactivation associated with acute herpes zoster. Inflammation of cells called glial and schwann cells which surround nerves in our nervous system are also known to have a major influence on pain. Drugs that reduce inflammation in these cells are now being trialled in a number of pain conditions. One drug/ natural supplement that offers particular promise is vitamin D. Because post herpetic neuralgia responds to a number of topical medications, vitamin D is being trialled in a topical form. If a vitamin D cream was an effective treatment for acute post herpetic neuralgia this would be a major treatment advance as it could provide a simple cost effective treatment option with minimal side effects.

Interventions

Use of a topical high potency vitamin D cream (20,000IU/g). a. Dose 20,000IU b. Twice a day c. Until pain resolves or for up to 4 weeks

Study design

Allocation

Non-randomised trial

Primary purpose

Treatment

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 80 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Age 18-80 Adults with acute herpetic neuralgia Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Unable to apply vitamin D cream Skin condition or skin allergy so unable to use cream Unable to provide informed consent

Outcome results