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Post-herpetic neuralgia treated with amitriptyline

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The dose of amitriptyline used in the treatment of PHN is determined by the age and/or frailty of the patient:

  • robust or patients under 65 years:
    • initial dose is 25 mg nocte which may be increased , in weekly increments, by 25 mg per day, until pain pain relief is achieved or side effects become intolerable
    • patients rarely require more than 75 mg daily

  • frail or patients over 65 years:
    • initial dose is 10 mg nocte which may be increased, in weekly increments, by 10 mg per day, according to the criteria described above

Reference:

  • Whitaker M (1995). Varicella-zoster virus infections (VZV) and their management. Clinical virology, April, 8-12.

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