pregabalin + acyclovir + paracetamol

This combination therapy consists of three pharmaceutical agents—pregabalin, acyclovir, and paracetamol—utilized as the standard-of-care control arm in a clinical trial conducted by Tanta University (NCT04546334) for the management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Pregabalin is a gabapentinoid that acts as an alpha-2-delta ligand, modulating voltage-gated calcium channels to reduce the release of excitatory neurotransmitters and alleviate neuropathic pain. Acyclovir is an antiviral nucleoside analog that inhibits viral DNA polymerase, used to treat the underlying herpes zoster infection. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic that provides general pain relief, likely through the inhibition of central cyclooxygenase pathways. In the context of the Tanta University study, this systemic medical treatment was compared against regional anesthetic techniques, specifically the Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) block, to evaluate comparative efficacy in pain reduction for patients with thoracic or lumbar PHN.

Other names

routine medical treatmentmedical treatmentstandard medical treatment for PHN