Prevention

All adults age 50 and older should get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix. This vaccine helps prevent shingles and its complications.

Get the second dose 2 to 6 months after the first dose. If you have a weakened immune system, you may get the second dose sooner (1 to 2 months after the first).

You should get Shingrix even if you:

• Have had shingles before
•  Received an older shingles vaccine (Zostavax)
• Received the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine

If you had shingles in the past, Shingrix can help prevent it from coming back. There is no set waiting time after shingles goes away before getting the vaccine.

Talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about when to get your vaccines. They can also tell you if you should avoid the vaccine due to allergies or your medical history.

Possible side effects of the vaccine

Most people have mild or moderate pain where the shot was given. Some people may have:

• Tiredness
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Chills
• Fever
• Stomach pain or nausea

About 1 out of 6 people may have side effects that make it hard to do normal activities. These symptoms usually go away in 2 to 3 days and can happen after either dose.

Prevent Spread to Others

Before shingles blisters dry and form scabs, they contain the virus that causes chickenpox. If someone touches the fluid in the blisters, they can get chickenpox.

To reduce spread:

• Wash towels and reusable items in very hot water with detergent
• Throw away tissues, wipes, or paper towels carefully
• Keep the affected skin clean to prevent infection

Do not let people who have never had chickenpox touch your rash or open blisters.

People at higher risk include:

• Older adults with weak immune systems
• Pregnant women who have never had chickenpox
• Premature or low birth weight infants

Prescription Treatment

If you think you may have shingles, see a healthcare provider right away. Treatment works best if started within 72 hours of the first symptoms. It may work even better if started before the rash appears.

Shingles is treated with antiviral medications. If started within 72 hours, these medicines can shorten how long the illness lasts. After 72 hours, they are less helpful for reducing symptoms or complications. These medicines are usually taken for 7 to 10 days.

Oral corticosteroids do not provide extra benefit for improving quality of life or preventing long-term nerve pain (post-herpetic neuralgia).

If antiviral treatment is started early, it can:

• Reduce pain
• Shorten the illness
• Help stop the disease from getting worse
• Reduce blister formation
• Lower the amount of virus in the blisters
• Lower the risk of complications

Treat Symptoms

Even if you cannot take antiviral medication, other treatments can help manage symptoms. These include:

• Pain relievers
• Antihistamines to reduce itching
• Numbing patches or local anesthetics
• Corticosteroids (such as prednisone)
• Capsaicin cream

Non-Medication Treatment

Some non-drug treatments may also help you feel better, such as:

• Cool, wet compresses
• Acupuncture
• Soothing baths (such as oatmeal or starch baths)
• Lotions (such as calamine)

Last Updated May 2026