I have no insurance, still went to an ER. Turned 26 in December, so no longer had parents insurance. I am a freelance web developer and haven't had projects in a long while so I haven't been able to get any insurance as I've had no funds. Anyways...
They gave me a prescription for FAMVIR (famciclovir) 500 MG and NORCO (hydrocodone-acetaminophen) 5-325 MG. I was only able to pick up the pain medicine. The antiviral price was like $150, and that was after asking about discounts. I had them keep it on hold, basically i'm curious if I magically get together enough money soon would it even be helpful by the time. I first developed the blisters about 3 days ago.
I am not a doctor but when I had a rash that was something like shingles the other day I was on the anti virals within 4 hours of seeing the rash
I am pretty sure that they are only of value if you take them really early on
This from web md maybe too late for you to have any benefit Also look at Nice guidance on shingles . if you google it should come up. If i put the weblink it usually stops post till moderated which is fine.
How Well It Works
Antivirals may reduce the severity of shingles and speed healing. When acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir are taken within 3 days of getting shingles, these medicines can significantly reduce the duration of pain associated with shingles. These medicines also reduce the pain caused by postherpetic neuralgia
Thanks for your response jon. I am kind of thinking it won't be as helpful before I asked. After looking up some more stuff, I think I will go grab it IF I round up the money and am finding new blisters popping up. I have not noticed any new ones, I'll just keep up with the home remedies I guess.
Realistically you just have to go with it now and let it take it's course, antivirils only work within the first 3 days.
I have to ask..... what sort of backward country lets it's citizens be ill and suffer when medication is available just because they have no money?
You can try taking the supplements lysine and olive leaf extract. These can get expensive also, but definetly less than the prescription. I am using them, hoping to keep my shingles at bay. I have not used them when I actually flared up, but many people have, and say it works. You have to take more than is recommended on the bottle if active at the time. Google the max amount allowed to take per day and then taper down when it subsides. It's worth shot.
Tech: With your next outbreak ask them to prescribe acyclovir. It's a first generation anti-viral, but it's still can be very effective. It's been on the market for quite a while, so it's now a generic. You should see big savings in cost. And will probably work just as well. The Famvir is new and improved. But that doesn't mean you won't get similar benefit from the Acyclovir.
I'm just coming out of an outbreak. And acyclovir helped me - a lot.
Dear Tech,
Unfortunately, the antivirals work best by keeping the Herpes Zoster-Shingles from replicating. If you take them on day 4, they will still help, just not as well. The research the pharmaceutical companies did was on days 1-3, and that is where the three days come from. As Herpes Zoster-Shingles can become a lifetime of excruciating pain, I would opt to spend the $150.00. My Herpes Zoster-Shingles was not diagnosed promptly the first episode, and I suffer with recurrent excruciating Herpes Zoster-Shingles every three to five weeks for the last 20 years in my right ear.
Best Wishes
Merry Juliana
This is politics at play, Steve. You are required to have health insurance in the US. The Congress is playing games with our health insurance. Sad, isn't it!
Yep. The 'good old' USA. Required to have health insurance or pay tax penalty, which I will have to next year. They give you a short deadline at the beginning of the year and if you don't have money to pay the first month premium, you're screwed like me. I don't qualify for my state's health insurance either.
Thanks for alll the responses.
Thanks, but it's not a matter of me OPTing to spend the $150.00. I don't have $150 to spend. I've asked several people if I could borrow some money. They either tell me they don't have it or they are unwilling to lend someone money, when the lendee can not tell them exactly when they will be paid back. I have no idea when I will get another project to work on and thus have money.
Here in the UK it doesn't matter if you're rich or poor., insured or not, homeless or live in a palace,,,,,,you get ill,,,,,you get treated and no questions asked, Are we doing it wrong? 
Surely money has more value than a mere life
Not wrong at all. More places should be like that! Even if not insured and you go to the ER here, you have to be treated. The problem, much like my case, comes in the form a hefty bill later on and paying to have the prescriptions they give filled.
Got the prescription changed to acyclovir. Just under $15! if it wouldn't have been so late last night when I found out the price of the famciclovir, I would've tried to get it changed then. Thanks for that tip broncho!
We don't get a bill at the end of treatment and If we;ve got no money we don't pay for the pills either
I'm glad you were able to get treatment for a more reasonable cost.
I didn't recognize the rash, and thought it was an allergic reaction. I didn't even go to the doctor till about 10 days after I got the first spots. I got on the medication then, and it stopped it from spreading, and started it quickly into the healing process. It wasn't showing any signs of stopping before the medication, so hopefully it helps you too!
Will the pharmacy split the script so many now and rest when money comes in. I don't know where you live but in Oklahoma there are places like Neighbors on the line, The ministry Center and church's that will give you vouchers to get meds.or take you with the money to get meds. Also some charities that are around. Check with your local church they should have info as to who may help you. I hope the monitors allow this post because there are so many people who are not aware of the help you can get.