Ultracet and shingles

I've been taking Ultrcet for about a month for shingles. Frankly, I hurt so bad to start with that all I wanted to do was sleep and that's what two Ultrcets let me do. The side affects initially were nausea and loss of appetite. Once I decided to eat regularly, hungry or not, the nausea has gone away. I've had to work and found that I can only take a half a tab every three to four hours during the day and still function. I've evidently built up a tolerance to them now because I have to take two about nine at nite and another two about two in the morning. I appreciate the thoughts about tapering off rather then quiting cold turkey. I've been non-social too but it's mainly because I don't feel good anyhow. The pain from the shingles is unrelenting and I have to stay on top of the pain meds, making sure the dosage is adequate without using too much. The initial outbreak went away and I still have all the pain and now I think I'm getting another outbreak. Seeing the doctor next week. Not a drug I'd want to take on a regular basis but it sure helps for now.

I have taken only one Ultracet tab for pain because I have shingles. I do not know what side effects I might get if I continue Ultracet, but it definitely helped that awful pain on the side of my head and neck where the rash occurs from shingles. I take high blood pressure medicine (metoprolol) and norvasc and synthroid for thyroid problems. I have a hiatal hernia, an umbilical hernia, arthritis and I take Tums and other over the counter vitamins fish oil caps and was wondering if the Ultracet is going to react from all of what I am already taking. I agree that the doctors do not keep up-to-date enough on all the new medications. They run you through like a bunch of animals and it makes them mad if you mention new information that you read or hear on television. As the old saying goes,"you never get too old to learn" and "you learn something new every day".

June (4-26-2003)

I took Ultracet for a total of 5 days to relieve the pain from shingles in my leg and foot. Although my doctor prescribed the drug 4 times per day, I found that the first one knocked me out for 14 hours. When I awoke, I had the mother of all headaches and pain in my right eye. About 40 minutes after taking the second pill on day 2, the eye pain was gone, but a mild headache continued...However, I found that I could not attain a deep sleep. I stayed in bed, feeling drugged, but never drifted into a comfortable sleep; I was restless and antsy. On day 3 I took an Ultracet in the morning and one at night, the same dose for day 4 and only one on day 5. I continued to be restless and agitated with a numbing headache. I also felt that my thought process was noticeably slowed down. I discontinued the drug on the 5th day for two reasons: First I had a dizzy spell, and second, I developed a tremor in my left hand that would flare up for several minutes and then go away. As for the relief of pain, it took the edge off the pain in my leg but never really alleviated the nerve pain on the top of my foot. I still have pain, but after discontinuing Ulracet a week ago, the headache is gone, and the occassional tremor stopped 5 days ago. I'm also back to my regular sleep pattern. It's my humble observation that I'm actually getting more relief from a tube of muscle rub now than I got from the Ultracet.