Estimating Risks of Central Nervous System Disturbance Associated with Medications for Herpes Zoster: Findings from a Regional Population-Based Cohort Study Using the Shizuoka Kokuho Database

Acyclovir and valacyclovir, when compared with famciclovir, are associated with an increased risk of CNS disturbance in patients with herpes zoster, particularly among those with severe renal dysfunction. These findings highlight the importance of careful consideration of renal function when determining antiviral dosing and support the development of clinical guidelines to enhance the safety of antiviral treatments, though further investigation into additional kidney function stages is needed.