Sometimes, doctors may prescribe one or more medications for treating and managing chickenpox symptoms. If you’re thinking about trying any over-the-counter medications, talk with your doctor first. Certain medications, like aspirin, are off-limits when you have chickenpox (more on this below).
Medicines that your doctor may recommend include:
Antivirals
Your doctor may prescribe these if you’re at a high risk of getting severe complications from a chickenpox infection.
Your risk may be considered high if you:
- Have a weakened immune system
- Are pregnant
- Are on immune-suppressing drugs
- Have certain health conditions, like leukemia, chronic lung disease, or HIV/AIDS
Antivirals for treating chickenpox in these groups of people include:
Pain Relievers
Experts recommend treating fevers or minor aches from chickenpox with acetaminophen (Tylenol).
“You should absolutely not use aspirin, as this can cause a rare complication known as Reye’s syndrome,” says Amy Edwards, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland.
She says that the use of ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is more controversial, as some studies have linked using these drugs when you have chickenpox to an increased risk of a bacterial skin infection.
However, Dr. Edwards says: “The data is marginal at best, and some doctors are still comfortable using them when needed with close supervision.”
Antihistamines
It’s best to avoid topical antihistamines to go on the skin, including the topical form of diphenhydramine. These can trigger allergic reactions.
“In general, we recommend avoiding any medicated cream (antibiotic, antihistamine) on the skin,” Edwards says. She notes that this is because the skin is not intact in people with chickenpox, and you can absorb the medication into the deeper layers of your skin, where it isn’t meant to be. “This can cause a worse rash and in some people can ‘prime’ their skin’s immune system to react to that cream in the future, even when the chickenpox is gone.”
Immune Globulin
Varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG), particularly Varizig, is licensed for use in the United States for people exposed to chickenpox who cannot take the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that healthcare experts give VZIG to eligible people as soon as possible within 10 days after exposure to chickenpox. People who may be eligible include:
- Hospitalized premature babies whose mothers are not immune to varicella
- Pregnant people without evidence of immunity
- Those with compromised immune systems
While it protects against getting chickenpox after exposure to an infected person, VZIG can also help make symptoms less severe in people who’ve already developed the disease.
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