About Acyclovir

If you’ve used Acyclovir, please help others by adding your feedback. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.

Subj: Severe itching
Date: 8/15/2009
I have been diagnosed with genetal herpes and I keep having severe outbreakes. I notice that after my menstration is the worse. I have been prescribed acyclovir 4 x a day for one month and one month off. The itching is so severe that it breakes my skin and I feel awful. Is this part of the process? Do I need to go back and see my doctor? Please advise.

Peggy

AskDocWeb: Yes, your doctor may be able to suggest something to help with the itching.

Subj: I break out again
Date: 8/16/2009
I been taking it for herpes.. it has shorten the outbreak period… but after a week or so… I break out again…help plz.

Lisa

AskDocWeb: You may not be able to prevent outbreaks completely but check back with your doctor, your dosage may need to be adjusted.

Subj: Burning tongue?
Date: 8/18/2009
I have a recurrent burning/sore tongue. My doctors and I have been unable to figure out what is causing this. Could this be an uncommon side effect of the acyclovir? This started about the time I started taking acyclovir prophylactically – 2xday 400mg tablets.

Ruth

AskDocWeb: While it may be possible, there have been no reports of burning tongue in the four and a half years that we have been tracking the side effects for Acyclovir. There is, however, a virus that infects the sides of the tongue called lenkoplakia. If your tongue starts to swell, that may indicate an allergic reaction, which would require immediate medical attention.

Subj: Effect on birth control pills
Date: 8/19/2009
Acyclovir is amazing and would recommend it to anyone in the above situations. But, I do have a question. Will Acyclovir effect the guarantee of my birth control pills working?

Kristen

AskDocWeb: No, Acyclovir has no effect on birth control pills.

Subj: Acyclovir does not cure these viruses
Date: 8/19/2009
I was prescribed Acyclovir 400 mg. a day (4 pills) for viruses Epstein Barr Virus, CMV, and another virus (Roseola I believe). They help but do not cure these viruses. They contain them only, once I go off the medication, the same symptoms re-occur so I don’t see much improvement for me with this med. In addition, I am now experiencing nausea and dizziness and will be calling my doctor regarding these latest side affects. I believe there is some bacterial infection involved systemically which could predispose one to opportunistic viruses such as these and we will be looking into this possibility soon.

Patricia

Subj: Hives
Date: 8/21/2009
I’ve never had herpes simplex 1 before was seen by a doctor and he prescribed me acyclovir. I started taking the medication for the very first time on 8/19 and I woke up at 3am on 8/21 with hives but had taken the medication 6 hours before that. Could this be one of the side effects? Please help,

Mona

AskDocWeb: Yes, hives can indicate an allergic reaction and should be immediately reported to your doctor or an emergency care center.

Subj: No more outbreaks
Date: 8/26/2009
Hi, I have been taking acyclovir now for 6 months, and it has been a life changer. No more outbreaks…before taking this I had one every 3 weeks, I’m on 800mg twice a day,.. dont know what I would do without it.

Jess

Subj: Weight gain and acne spots
Date: 9/1/2009
I have been using Aciclovir 200mg tablets for outbreaks of herpes but notice weight gain and acne spots….is this possible?

Andrea

AskDocWeb: Although it is possible that doesn’t mean that it is related. Neither is listed as a side effect of Acyclovir.

Subj: Unable to sleep?
Date: 9/3/2009
My husband (74 at the time), went to an eye clinic with a sore eye. Was told to use an eye ointment. No improvement went back a second time, was told the same. The third time the opthamologist discovered a large herpes lesion. Has been on Acyclovir drops and capsules since March 19, 09 Has had difficulty sleeping since then. Is one of the side effects extreme exhaustion, but unable to sleep? Please respond.

D.

AskDocWeb: It is possible that the lesion alone could keep him from sleeping. Insomnia may be a rare effect but it is not listed as a side effect of Acyclovir.

Subj: Itching
Date: 9/8/2009
I just had my first outbreak when the doctor prescribed me acyclovir 400mg 2 times daily but what I have noticed is a rash on my buttocks legs arms and back. Should I get my script changed to valtrex? And what can I do for the rash I have been putting on cortizone cream and took benadryl but still itching. Itching so bad I haven’t slept well in days.

Tosha

AskDocWeb: For itching that bad you should check with your doctor.

Subj: Excitable and aggressive 19 month old boy
Date: 9/11/2009
My nephew has been on Acyclovier since he was born 19mths ago. Mom had been infected with herpes during pregnancy and was unaware. When baby was delivered he was infected. Thankfully he has not had an outbreak for 7 months and the doctor has totally stopped the medication. Cold turkey. He seems awful excitable and aggressive since stopping the medication. Is this a normal side affect due to the “withdrawal”? Thank you for your time.

Shelly

AskDocWeb: There are no withdrawal symptoms listed for Acyclovir and no evidence of any rebound effect.

Subj: Question
Date: 9/18/2009
My son was given acyclovir for 5 days as a newborn because the doctors thought he might have herpes it turned out to be neonate sepsis. What are some side effects for a child this young receiving this drug?

Angela

AskDocWeb: Only a limited number of studies have been done using acyclovir in children but so far they have resulted in the same side effects as for adults.

Subj: Urine production and Acyclovir
Date: 9/23/2009
Could you eloborate more about urine production and Acyclovir. I noticed since taking this drug, it little more difficult to urinate with a strong force especially when my penis is slightly erected in the morning. Things are better during the day when flaccid. When it is flaccid the stream is generally good. Should this be expected? I am 72 years old.

Caleb

AskDocWeb: In general, the more erect a penis is the more difficult it is to urinate, and that is expected. Notify your doctor if you have difficulty urinating when flaccid, your urine becomes dark, or you notice a decrease in the amount of urine that your body produces.

Subj: Lower back pain and stomach trouble
Date: 9/27/2009
I have been put on acyclovir a month a go at 800mg 5x day, since then I have lower back pain, then stomach trouble it feels like a hole in my stomach, with pain. I had been on valtrex for many years, for herpes. The last day I feel like an out break coming, is this do to the dose? I am ready to stop this, what is the right dose? I was on valtrex 500mg, 1 or 2 a day.

JAN

AskDocWeb: Lower back pain falls under the heading of arthralgia, which is joint pain that can appear in any joint. Up to 6% of patients taking Acyclovir experience arthralgia. Remember, the instructions say that Acyclovir should be taken with food and with a full (8 oz) glass of water. Not doing so may result in an upset stomach. If you are experiencing more discomfort than just an upset stomach check with your doctor. The right dosage depends on your condition and only your doctor can determine that.

Subj: Allergic reaction
Date: 9/27/2009
I have been taking the meds for three weeks. I have numbness of the face, and also a hive like allergic reaction on my face. It is so tight and feels very dry. What should I do? The meds are helping with the outbreaks.

J

AskDocWeb: Contact your doctor or local emergency room as soon as possible. An allergic reaction can be a life threatening situation and may require immediate medical attention.

Subj: Stiff neck, back pain, nausea, fever, and severe pounding headaches
Date: 9/27/2009
Hello, I was diagnosed with genital herpes about 10 years ago and was never given anything until about a year now. I had never had any breakouts so I never really needed it however I have been hospitalized about four or more times with recurrent herpes meningitis(mollerets syndrome) which was always treated with acyclovir intervenously. My doctor sent me home with acyclovir now to take when I feel it coming on and it seems to work well however I would like to take it daily to prevent it entirely because the headaches are so terrible when I do have an episode. It causes stiff neck, back pain, nausea, fever, and severe pounding headaches. I no longer have them do the spinals because of the side affects of them and I know from the symptoms that it’s not neccesary. My question is that I felt an episode coming on and took the 800 mg dose and the went out later that night and woke up with a rash all over my chest sides and back, can I suddenly become allergic to acyclovir or is it because I drank beer the night before! I was feeling a bit disoriented and confused as well as some panic attack feelings! Is this normal and can I continue to take the acylovir? Thx!

Gemnilvr

AskDocWeb: A few people have mentioned the possibility that Acyclovir might increase or worsen a hangover after consuming alcohol. One patient reported that a single drink gave them a hangover the next day. Allergic responses are unpredictable and may come and go over time. If you suspect that you are having an allergic reaction, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Subj: My hair is falling out!
Date: 10/2/2009
I have been on Acyclovir for 3 months now, twice a day. My hair is falling out! I quit talking this product. The doctor told me it will take several weeks for it to get out of my system. I hope I have hair left by then. It was not listed as a possible side effect. I wish it had, I wouldn’t have taken it.

Rav

Subj: Herpes Simplex Keratitis
Date: 10/10/2009
I am an Ophthalmologist. I have been treating a 17 year old young man for his first episode of Herpes Simplex Keratitis with acyclovir ointment. It responded well and was tapered from x5 to x3 in the second week. He presented today with priprism. His mother has sickle cell disease SC Haemoglobin. She reports testin him as a baby and he does not have the disease but cannot recall if he has AS or AC haemoglobin. They want to know if this first episode of priaprism is due to the acyclovie eye ointment. Thank you for your help.

Hazel

AskDocWeb: Priagism does sometimes result in men who have sickle cell anemia but there is no known connection to Acyclovir.

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