werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) (03/28/85)
> After I left my doctor's office, I went to the local health sore, did > some quick reading and started the following regime. > [various vitamins follow] > In 4 days, the pain started to go away and in 7 days, the blisters are 1. Just a caveat: Without treatment, about 15% of people get better in 7 days or less from Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Source: the article in the March 8 JAMA that you wanted [below] 2. Abstract: [Since you can't find JAMA, maybe this will help] Preliminary Communication/ Herpes Zoster: The treatment and Prevention of Neuralgia with Adenosine-MP Thirty two adults were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial [Ed Note: Defn of Medical Proof] of intramuscular injections of gel-susteined AMP given three times a week for up to four weeks for acute Herpes Zoster. AMP moderately reduced the pain soon after the start of treatment, decreased desquamation time, and promoted faster healing of the skin than placebo treatment. AMP treatment reduced virus shedding and cleared the virus faster than in placebo=treated subjects. At the end of the initial four-week treatment period, 88% of AMP-treated patients were pain-free, as opposed to only 43% in the placebo group. After four weeks, all patients who ahd not recovered from pain started receiving AMP treatment without breaking the code. All these patients recovered from pain within three weeks after initiation of treatment. No recurrence of pain or lesions was experienced from 3-18 months after the end of treatment. AMP, a natural cellular metabolite, showed no side effects or toxicity during and after the treatment. 3. Caution: An accompanying editorial in the same issue of JAMA AMP for the treatment of Varicella Zoster infections: A large dose of caution. If you want photocopies, send 82 cents (60 cents + 22 cents postage), and I'll send it to anyone who wants the article. Trust me, I'm almost a doctor. -- Craig Werner !philabs!aecom!werner What do you expect? Watermelons are out of season!