Questions to Ask Your Doctor - Shingles

Whether you want to prevent shingles or you’ve already been diagnosed, talk to your doctor about steps you can take to best protect your health.

Ask Your Doctor . . .

Preventing shingles:

Should I get a shingles vaccine?

I heard that a new shingles vaccine is available. If I already got the older shingles vaccine, do I need the new one?

If I get the vaccine, could I still get shingles?

How will I know if I have shingles?

Coping with shingles symptoms:

Do you recommend antiviral medicine for me?

How long will my symptoms last?

What do you recommend for the pain?

How can I protect friends and family from my shingles?

Could I have complications from shingles?

Will my shingles rash leave a scar?

TIP: Always share with your doctor any updates since your last visit—from new medicines to major life changes. These can impact your health. And be honest about how you’re feeling and whether you’re following your treatment plan. Your doctor can’t help you if she doesn’t know what’s really going on.