Shingles - Pharmacy First

This is an outline with guidelines for pharmacists in England to treat shingles within the NHS Pharmacy First service. One document provides a Patient Group Direction (PGD) for supplying aciclovir, detailing patient inclusion/exclusion criteria, dosage, duration, and necessary record-keeping. Another PGD addresses the supply of valaciclovir, primarily as an alternative when aciclovir is unavailable or in specific patient circumstances like immunosuppression or difficulty adhering to the aciclovir regimen. The third source, an article for healthcare professionals, offers practical advice on managing shingles, emphasizing ruling out serious complications, taking a thorough patient history, understanding treatment goals, and considering factors like rash onset time and patient adherence when selecting antiviral medication. Together, the sources provide a framework for pharmacists to assess, treat, and advise patients with shingles, including guidance on referrals and safety-netting.