Shingles pain

[Russ T Bolt]

SWMBO was diagnosed with shingles on Thursday by a locum GP (our GP after 2 mins consultation told her on Monday that she was stumped by her symptoms, which appear to have been casebook shingles).
She was prescribed anti viral tablets and told to take ibuprofen.

This didn't help so she has been taking co-codamol which also isn't helping at all.

Out of hours GP service have today prescribed Amitriptyline, which so far also hasn't helped.

She hasn't slept for 2days now and is becoming quite distressed.

Can anybody here who has had it suggest anything else we can do and what is best case/worse case expectation for how long the pain will last.

[Paul Dishman]

What doses of pain-killers has she been taking?

She could take a maximum dose og 2x Co-Codamol 500/8 tablets every 6 hours and Ibuprofen 400mg every 8 hours, but its important to take regularly and around the clock.

What strength Amitript and what dose?

[Russ T Bolt]

Paul Dishman said:

What doses of pain-killers has she been taking?

She could take a maximum dose og 2x Co-Codamol 500/8 tablets every 6 hours and Ibuprofen 400mg every 8 hours, but its important to take regularly and around the clock.

What strength Amitript and what dose?

Paul, thanks for the response.

co-codamel 30mg + 500mg it says on the box.

10mg of Amritript 1to 3 tablets at night.

We weren't sure about the nighttime bit, and after having a quick search it appeared that people do take them during the day, so she took one this morning when I collected them hoping the that she might be able to get some sleep and that they might help with the pain.

She went off for a lie down about an hour ago so hopefully she managed to get to sleep. She said they hadn't helped with the pain but were making her drowsy.

[Paul Dishman]

No problem

Co-codamol 500/30 have Paracetamol 500mg & Codeine 30mg, so a dose of 2 every 6 hours (8 in 24hrs) should have some effect on the pain so carry on with these

I'd advise taking the three Amitriptyline together tonight and see how she is in the morning.If she's no better then contact the GP again

Is she still taking the anti-virals?

[Russ T Bolt]

Paul Dishman said:

No problem

Co-codamol 500/30 have Paracetamol 500mg & Codeine 30mg, so a dose of 2 every 6 hours (8 in 24hrs) should have some effect on the pain so carry on with these

I'd advise taking the three Amitriptyline together tonight and see how she is in the morning.If she's no better then contact the GP again

Is she still taking the anti-virals?

She is, Aciclovir, 5 a day. The rash hasn't yet started to develop scabs so presumably still early days.

[littlegreenfairy]

Hope she feels much much better soon. It's a horrible illness and drags on far too long.

Try getting her to sleep semi sat up right with a triangular pillow and well supported. It's much less painful than lying on your side or back.