ObjectiveTo compare the analgesic effect of different treatment for herpes zoster neuralgia, and optimize herpetic neuralgia treatment. MethodsWe collected hospital inpatient data with herpes zoster by the First Military Medical Case Management System between January 1st, 2009 and December 20th, 2013. All the patients were divided into five groups according to different treatments. Patients in group A accepted valaciclovir capsules and doxepin hydrochloride tablets; patients in group B accepted valaciclovir capsules; patients in group C accepted valaciclovir capsule, nefopam hydrochloride tablets and doxepin hydrochloride tablets; patients in group D accepted valaciclovir capsules and nefopam hydrochloride tablets; patients in group E accepted valaciclovir capsules and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including nimesulide capsules and ibuprofen sustained-release capsules). We collected such statistic data as sex, age, time of onset, time of pain disappearing after treatment. Then, we analyzed the difference among the groups on the time of pain disappearing. ResultsThere were 336 cases compliant with the standard in all the 898 cases of medical record data. The number of the patients was 72, 86, 66, 60 and 52; while the pain disappearing time after treatment was (5.94±2.54), (8.60±3.09), (5.77±1.85), (5.80±1.96) and (6.86±2.18) days, respectively in group A, B, C, D and E. Pain disappearing time after treatment of group B was significantly different from groups A, C, D, and E (P<0.05); group E was significantly different from groups A, C, and D (P<0.05); there was no significant difference between group A and groups C and D, and between group C and D (P>0.05). ConclusionThe combination of nefopam hydrochloride tablets, doxepin hydrochloride tablets, nimesulide capsules, and ibuprofen sustained-release capsules is effective in the treatment of herpes zoster neuralgia. The use of nefopam hydrochloride tablets with doxepin hydrochloride tablets is more effective than the combination of nimesulide capsules and ibuprofen sustained-release capsules. Doxepin hydrochloride tablets are not significantly different from nefopam hydrochloride tablets. Nefopam hydrochloride tablets and doxepin hydrochloride tablets are not associated with increased efficacy.