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Postherpetic Neuralgia

Overcoming long-lasting pain of Shingles through new potential Postherpetic Neuralgia treatment options!

Shingles Still Burning You Up?

A Clinical Research Study might just be able to help you with your PHN pain.

Did your Shingles go away but do you still have pain? You may be suffering from Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN). It is a painful complication of Shingles that affects your nerve fibers and skin causing pain, numbness, and itching.

You may be eligible to volunteer if you:

  • Are 18 years or older
  • Have been diagnosed with Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)
  • Do not have any neurological condition that mimics the symptoms of PHN.

If you’ve been diagnosed with PHN, you may be able to participate in a research study investigating a study drug that may help treat PHN pain.

*If you are eligible for the PHN clinical trial, someone from our research staff will give you a call to begin the screening process and see if you further qualify. You may be invited to the nearest site for medical evaluations by experienced doctors and nurses.

*All volunteers eligible for the research study will be compensated for their time and travel. No insurance is required to participate and it is free of cost. 

Please provide YOUR contact information only.
Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN) Clinical Trials

About PHN Study

Revival Research Institute is conducting a Phase 2 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an experimental drug that can lead to new Postherpetic Neuralgia treatment. Scheduled clinic visits will take place during Screening, a 2-week single-blind placebo Run-in Period, Baseline, and Weeks 2, 4, and 6 of the Treatment Period, as well as the Safety Follow-up.

Volunteers who are eligible may receive the study drug or the placebo. Double-blind means that neither you nor the study doctor will know if you’ve received the study drug or the placebo. Patients above the age of 18 years, with a prior herpes zoster skin rash and PHN pain that persists for 3 months after the herpes zoster rash has healed, are eligible for enrollment. The safety, efficacy, and tolerability of the drug will be monitored by collecting information on adverse events, clinical laboratory results, ECG findings, and vital signs throughout the study period.

*The study drug procedures are free of charge to all the participants. People who meet the study’s eligibility requirements will be compensated for their time and travel expenses too. No insurance is required to volunteer.  

Get Started - What to Expect?

Volunteers who are qualified to participate in the PHN clinical trial will receive a phone call from one of the research staff. Those eligible will be invited to the site to further complete the screening process. The research staff will ask you about your medical history and current conditions. All your personal information is safe and secure and will not be shared with anyone outside of the organization as mentioned in our Privacy Policy.

If you decide to participate in the research study, the study staff including the doctors and nurses will explain to you the potential risks and benefits of the research study. We encourage all volunteers interested in participating in the research study to ask as many questions as they like. Once you have all your answers, only then sign the Informed Consent Form. If you decide to participate you will be asked to complete all the study visits and be available for any unscheduled visits that your study doctor might suggest.

*All volunteers eligible for the study will be compensated for their time and travel for the completion of every visit. Participants who are eligible will receive all study-related care from experienced research staff that includes doctors and nurses.  

Condition

Postherpetic Neuralgia

Length of Study Treatment

15 weeks

Number of Study Visits

7 visits

About Postherpetic Neuralgia

postherpetic neuralgia study

The term PHN refers to the pain caused by Shingles that persists after the Shingles have healed (PHN). It is estimated that 1 out of every 5 Shingles patients will develop PHN. The pain of PHN, which occurs in the same area as the pain and rash of Shingles, is caused by Shingles infection-induced nerve fiber damage. Shingles occurs due to the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox can get Shingles. There is a need for new and effective Postherpetic Neuralgia treatment options that have less side effects and may help relieve the pain.

About Postherpetic Neuralgia

The term PHN refers to the pain caused by Shingles that persists after the Shingles have healed (PHN). It is estimated that 1 out of every 5 Shingles patients will develop PHN. The pain of PHN, which occurs in the same area as the pain and rash of Shingles, is caused by Shingles infection-induced nerve fiber damage. Shingles occurs due to the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox can get Shingles. There is a need for new and effective Postherpetic Neuralgia treatment options that have less side effects and may help relieve the pain.

Symptoms of Postherpetic Neuralgia

The pain in PHN is severe, and it can feel like it’s shooting, stabbing, or gnawing. Affected body parts may be hypersensitive or lack sensation. It is permanent in some people but sometimes it improves over time. Less commonly it also produces an itchy feeling and numbness.

Risk Factors

When you have Shingles, you may be more likely to develop Postherpetic Neuralgia if you are over 50 years, had a severe rash or pain, were diagnosed with a chronic illness, or if your antiviral treatment was delayed for more than 72 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Shingles?

Shingles is an outbreak of a rash or blisters on the skin caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox—the varicella-zoster virus. The first sign of Shingles is a stinging or burning sensation around the waist, chest, stomach, or back.

What is the treatment of Shingles?

There is no cure or permanent Shingles treatment. When taken within the first 3 days from when the rash appears, antivirals can shorten the duration and reduce the severity of the attack. Revival Research Institute is currently conducting clinical trials on an experimental study drug that may be able to reduce pain related to PHN, that is a long term side effect of Shingles. 

Do all people with Shingles develop Postherpetic Neuralgia?

No, Postherpetic Neuralgia affects 10-30% of people who develop Shingles. It is more common in individuals who are older. 

Can I participate in the study if I only have Shingles?

Volunteers eligible for the study may be able to participate if the skin lesions heal from the Shingles treatment, but it leaves behind persistent pain for more than 3 months. The research staff will screen all volunteers who participate to make sure you fulfill the participation criteria of the study. 

What is a placebo?

A placebo, also known as “sugar pills”, is a drug that looks like the study drug but does not have any active ingredient in it. 

How can I find out which drug I’ve been given i.e. the placebo or the study drug?

All volunteers who are eligible for the study and decide to take part in the research study will be randomly assigned to any one of the treatment groups. The PHN Clinical Trial is a double-blind research study which means that neither you nor the study doctor will know if you receive the study drug or the placebo. Every volunteer will have a 50% chance of receiving either one of the treatments.

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    Southfield, MI 48034
  • 248-721-9539
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