penciclovir + mecobalamin + pregabalin

This therapeutic regimen, referred to as the basic treatment in clinical trials conducted by the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, is a combination therapy used as a standard of care for acute herpes zoster. It consists of three primary pharmacological agents: **penciclovir**, an antiviral; **mecobalamin**, a vitamin B12 analog; and **pregabalin**, an analgesic and anticonvulsant. Penciclovir acts by inhibiting viral DNA polymerase, thereby suppressing the replication of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Mecobalamin is utilized for its neuroprotective properties, promoting peripheral nerve repair and helping to mitigate neuropathic pain. Pregabalin serves as a ligand for the alpha-2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels in the central nervous system, which reduces the release of excitatory neurotransmitters to alleviate acute zoster-associated pain and prevent postherpetic neuralgia. In clinical study contexts, this regimen is often compared against experimental interventions like fire needle therapy and Chinese herbal wet compresses.

Other names

standard antiviral and analgesic therapybasic treatment