CONSULT WITH A DOCTOR ONLINE
AND GET YOUR PRESCRIPTION REFILL NOW!

Icon

U.S. Licensed Physicians Only


Icon

100% Money Back GUARANTEE


Icon

No Monthly Membership Fees


Icon

Safe, Secure, Private and Affordable

Shingles


Shingles: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Online Prescription

Learn what shingles is, how it develops, what symptoms to watch for, and how online consultation may help with treatment.

Start Online Consultation A licensed doctor reviews your consultation and prescribes medication only if it’s safe.

Overview of Shingles

shingles Based on its appearance, shingles can raise a host of red flags whenever it shows up. However, you may be better able to deal with the situation if you have all the accurate information about the virus. For example, did you know that you can fill an online prescription for shingles?

It is no doubt that depending on the active site on your body, you may not be too comfortable going out to get your hands on some medication. So, being able to take care of your shingles prescription online allows you to mitigate the feelings of awkwardness and discomfort that you may have had to deal with otherwise.

Shingles boils down to a viral infection, which is an effect of the varicella-zoster virus. If this name sounds familiar to you, that is probably because it is the same strain that is responsible for chickenpox.

When the chickenpox infection has passed, the virus does not always go away. Instead, it can reside in your nervous system for many years. This behavior puts it in the prime position to activate again, but instead of chickenpox, you end up with shingles.

Important: Shingles is most responsive to treatment when it is identified early, especially in the first few days after symptoms appear.

Signs and Symptoms

Shingles can appear on many parts of the body. Depending on the site, the appearance and feel may differ. However, pain and burning tend to be where shingles starts. While it is not uncommon for the pain to be spread throughout, you are more likely to feel it on one side of the body.

Subsequently, you may notice that a rash starts to follow. This rash can take on a purplish, dark brown, pink, or red hue. However, the most common color is red.

Beyond the color, the rash does not always take on the same pattern or appearance. Some people may have what looks like a collection of small pimples. Others may have a series of patches instead. In some cases, there are blisters that pop very easily and are filled with fluid.

While you are most likely to see the symptoms appear on your chest or back, having shingles on the side of your face is also possible. Here is a breakdown of what to expect, based on the location.

The Buttocks

Not all cases of shingles on the buttocks are characterized by a rash. However, pain is a much more common symptom. You can notice a spread on both sides, but having shingles on one side is the more typical outcome.

If you do develop a rash, it may have a patchy look or feature blisters that pop easily.

Your Midsection

Your lower back or torso are among the most common sites of infection. These usually take on the more typical shingles appearance. Some people may experience blisters striped along the upper back.

Your Head

Having the rash pop up on one side of your face is rare, but it is possible. Depending on the exact location, the infection may affect the eyes, ears, mouth, or scalp.

Eye involvement: This is called herpes zoster ophthalmicus. It may cause redness, tearing, swelling, throbbing, or blurred vision.

Ear involvement: Shingles in or around the ear may lead to hearing loss, facial muscle weakness, or balance problems.

Mouth involvement: Shingles can appear inside the mouth, affecting taste and making eating painful.

Scalp involvement: On the scalp, shingles may cause tenderness, pain while brushing, or even bald patches.

All these effects in the head region are quite responsive to treatment, which means returning to normalcy is highly likely. However, in the absence of the required care, the effects can be long-term or even permanent.

Diagnosis

As a visually detectable ailment, shingles is thankfully not too hard to diagnose. Even so, it is not recommended that you attempt to self-diagnose.

Medical professionals tend to observe the blisters and the presence of the rash to make a diagnosis. Furthermore, your doctor is likely to ask questions about the emergence and progress of your symptoms, as well as your medical history.

Still, there are rare cases in which even this process does not confirm the presence of shingles. Such occurrences may call for a skin sample or fluid from the blisters for testing. Subsequently, the presence of the virus can be confirmed.

Treatment, Medication, and Care

There are a host of medical options available for helping you to treat shingles. Note that the virus often clears itself within a few weeks, and recurrence is highly unlikely. However, once you notice that your condition is no less present after 10 days following diagnosis, it is time to schedule another appointment with your doctor.

The medicines that are available for shingles tend to fall under several categories, which are intended to tackle specific symptoms and concerns. These include:

  • Anticonvulsants for tackling prolonged pain
  • Analgesics or narcotic medications for pain reduction
  • Antiviral medications for pain reduction and assistance with recovery
  • Antihistamines for the treatment of itching
  • Numbing creams or gels for pain reduction
  • Special drugs to lower the risk of postherpetic neuralgia, which can cause nerve pain after shingles has healed

As indicated at the beginning, your journey to get your hands on these medications does not have to be as uncomfortable or awkward as you may think. Instead, you can handle your prescription online for shingles.

Beyond that, however, what if you are not comfortable going to a doctor’s office for observation and diagnosis? In such cases, you can get an online doctor's prescription for shingles instead.

The best part is that it is not just a situation of making a request and being assigned a prescription. You get a full virtual consultation with a US-licensed physician. Remember to monitor your symptoms and schedule another consultation if your symptoms do not seem to be improving after 10 days.

Best timing: Antiviral treatment tends to work best when started as early as possible, ideally within the first 72 hours after the rash appears.

Living with Shingles

In terms of living with shingles, there are a few things that you need to bear in mind. First, despite the way you may look, remember that you cannot pass shingles itself to anyone. However, the fluid from your blisters can pass the underlying varicella-zoster virus to someone who has never had it, and that person is likely to develop chickenpox instead.

If you do notice the presence of blisters, it is in your best interest to use fluid-absorbent dressing. This provides you with a sort of protective barrier that may help prevent others from coming into contact with the virus.

Since the symptoms are uncomfortable and persistent, they can also contribute to a frustrated emotional state. Managing this is key to maintaining the greatest sense of normalcy possible. You may want to consider incorporating more rest, meditation, and exercise into your life.

From a physical standpoint, make sure that you have consulted a doctor and that you are taking your medications exactly as recommended. Do not deviate from the suggested frequency.

Though you may feel like you no longer belong, having shingles is the perfect reason to double down on the social ties you have. Do not be afraid to talk to your loved ones or take part in activities that provide a healthy distraction.

There are also online support groups that put you in contact with people who have had the same experience or are currently going through it. You tend to find useful information and a reassuring sense of community there.

Final Remarks

Overall, shingles can be a tough ailment to tackle. However, the right approach can prevent you from dealing with tremendous discomfort or permanent effects. Potentially, the most important action is getting the medical attention you need.

QuickRxRefill is one option to assist with this. You get to navigate one of the socially hardest elements by getting an online doctor's prescription for shingles.

The process is also intuitive. Simply go to the website, fill out a brief form indicating why you need a doctor, wait in your comfortable space for a response, and proceed with your online consultation.

You can take comfort in knowing that the quality of service can still be effective while the level of convenience is much higher than a traditional office visit.

When dealing with such a stressful and uncomfortable ailment, it is incredibly refreshing to have a system that is designed to promote the best possible health while allowing you to feel safe. There is no better outcome than the one you get when taking the right action by seeking medical help.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is shingles?

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection that causes a painful skin rash with blisters. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.

2. What causes shingles to develop?

Shingles occurs when the varicella-zoster virus reactivates years after a person has had chickenpox. The virus remains dormant in nerve cells and can become active again later in life.

3. What are the early symptoms of shingles?

Early symptoms may include burning, tingling, itching, or pain in one area of the skin, followed by a red rash and clusters of fluid-filled blisters that usually appear on one side of the body.

4. How long does a shingles outbreak usually last?

Most shingles outbreaks last about 2 to 5 weeks, although pain and discomfort can continue for longer in some cases.

5. Can shingles be treated with prescription medication?

Yes. Doctors commonly prescribe antiviral medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir to reduce the severity and duration of shingles symptoms.

6. When should shingles treatment start?

Antiviral treatment works best when started within 72 hours of the rash appearing, as this can help shorten the illness and reduce complications.

7. Is shingles contagious?

You cannot catch shingles directly from another person. However, someone with shingles can spread the virus to a person who has never had chickenpox, causing them to develop chickenpox instead.

8. Who is most at risk for shingles?

Shingles is more common in adults over 50, people with weakened immune systems, or those who have previously had chickenpox.

9. What complications can shingles cause?

One of the most common complications is postherpetic neuralgia, a condition where nerve pain continues even after the rash has healed.

10. Can I get shingles treatment or prescription online?

Many telehealth services allow patients to complete an online consultation where a licensed doctor reviews symptoms and medical history and may prescribe antiviral medication if appropriate.

 

Mitchell Cohen
Mitchell Cohen, M.D. is Board Certified doctor specializing in Orthopedic Medicine and Spinal Surgery. Graduated from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA with a degree in Human Physiology (1983) and subsequently achieved his medical degree in 1987 from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr Cohen did his Surgical Residency at the University of New Mexico in 1992 as well as a Spine Fellowship in 1993. Dr. Cohen has published the following medical journals: "Biomechanical Efficiency of Spinal Systems in Thorocolumbar Fractures" (1993), "Kaneda Anterior Spinal Instrumentation" and "Spinal Fusion Stabilization amongst many others. View Dr Cohen's Twitter Page.

WARNING: Limitations of Online Doctor/Medical Consultations and Online Prescriptions, QuickRxRefills Cannot and Will NOT Prescribe, Dispense, or Resell any and all medications Narcotics/Controlled Substances (this policy is fully enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)) for Anti-depressants, Pain, Anxiety, Weightloss, Sleep, ADHD/ADD, Anabolic Steroids, Testosterone Replacement Therapy and any and all Medications that contain GabaPentin or Pseudroephedrine including non-controlled substances or any medications that are considered controversial, Off Labeled (Growth Hormone aka HGH) or recalled in nature such (i.e. Retin-A, Accutane). Furthermore, QuickRxRefills is not a substitute for an office based physician in your location nor is it a substitute for Emergency Medical Care or 911. If you do experience a "true" medical emergency your are encouraged to pick up the phone and dial 911 as soon as possible.

CONSULT A DOCTOR NOW!