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: Clear gelatinous globs
Date: 1/8/2005
My wife is taking Acyclovir for shingles. This is her fifth day and she noticed she has loose bowel movements and the bowel movement has clear gelatinous globs with tinges of pink. Can this be caused by the Acyclovir or other of the medications she is taking?

Efraim

AskDocWeb: Yes, diarrhea is a possible side effect of Acyclovir. If this happens, discontinue use and seek advice from your doctor.

Subj: Acyclovir and Bels Palsy
Date: 1/15/2005
I was so happy when I read these articles… I have been taking acyclovir for 10 days for bels palsy and I saw were one lady said memory loss… I thought was going out of my mind…I can’t do my everyday things…thinking is slow…feel week is this common with this medication?

Dianne

AskDocWeb: Malaise is one of the side effects of this medication. You might benefit from a change in medication, ask your doctor about it.

Subj: Acyclovir for baby with chicken pox
Date: 1/23/2005
My 6 month old baby has the chicken pox and Acyclovir has been prescribed by my doctor. I have read about side effects and I am worried. Is it safe for a baby this young to take Acyclovir?

Lisa

AskDocWeb: Yes, Acyclovir is commonly given to children who have chicken pox.

Subj: Acyclovir and tender glands
Date: 1/25/2005
Hi, I picked up EBV in March 2004, I then got exposed to HSV 1 by my fiancee. Because of the damaged caused by both of the viruses my GP recommended that I be put on Acyclovir for 6 weeks. My throat has been killing me and all of a sudden my testicles have been very tender and I have tender glands all over. I will be completing the course at the end of this week. Could these symptoms be side effects? I have tested for everything and the only thing I can think of is the Acyclovir.

Keith

AskDocWeb: Yes, your lymph node tenderness could be a side effect of this medication.

Subj: More burning and urgency to urinate
Date: 1/28/2005
I have started taking the drug for 3 days now at the first sign of my outbreak. How long before the drugs starts to ease symptoms? I actually feel more burning and more urgency to urinate. Is this normal? Also I now have a sore throat. Should I be concerned. I am taking 400mg twice a day for 7 days then once a day after that for suppression.

Darlene

AskDocWeb: Sounds like you might have a urinary tract infection. Please see your doctor before you start seeing blood in your urine.

Subj: Hair loss in studies
Date: 1/31/2005
I am taking Acyclovir for genital herpes. I am really concerned about hair loss as I am a female and don’t think it is as easily accepted among society… how often did this occur in studies?

Sarah

AskDocWeb: It appears that hair loss occurs to only a small number of patients taking Acyclovir. The manufacturer does not publish the exact percentage.

Subj: Outbreaks after delivery?
Date: 2/2/2005
We are pregnant and my wife was prescribed Acyclovir to prevent a herpes outbreak close to labor. However, she has never had an outbreak since the original one over ten years ago. Is there ANY chance that after our child is born and my wife goes off Acyclovir that the lack of medication will cause my wife to start having outbreaks?

TH

AskDocWeb: Unfortunatly, yes, she could start having outbreaks but it will not be caused by a lack of the medication. That is the nature of the virus. It can be dormant for long periods of time and then a stressful, such as pregnancy, event can trigger an outbreak.

Subj: Missed two days
Date: 2/5/2005
I was prescribed 3 doses a day for 7 days of Acyclovir due to a cold sore above my lip. I missed two doses in a row. Will this allow the virus to develop resistance or are any negative effects due to this? Also, I’ve noticed black spots on my skin forming, but do not know if this is related to Acyclovir. Any insight on these matters would be appreciated. Thank you.

Dan

AskDocWeb: Missing doses is one way to allow the virus develop a resistance to treatment and it could start up again beneath the skin. You may want to talk to your doctor about continuing the med two days longer so that you have 7 continuous days of treatment.

Subj: Acyclovir side effects
Date: 2/11/2005
I take Acyclovir for recurrent lip sores. I’ve been getting lip sores since childhood. Yesterday, after taking 1-800 mg pill I experienced dizziness and heart palpitations. I have had these symptoms in the past and had attributed them to an undiagnosed headache condition that I’ve had for the past three years. I am on no other medication, so feel strongly that the Acyclovir could have prompted the symptoms.

Wendy

Subj: Good experience with Acyclovir
Date: 2/14/2005
I’m 32 and I have what I believe to be my first and hopefully only attack of Herpes. I have blisters on ONE side of my mouth and on and along the edge of my lower lip on the same side of the face. I had a low fever and sore throat for about 3 days before the blisters broke out. In another two days the same blisters were large and painful, and that’s when the second doctor diagnosed it as Herpes after a tzanck smear test. I’ve been on acyclovir for 2 days now, using both the 800Mb pill AND the topical cream. The pain is significantly lower, the old blisters seem to have gone past ripening, and the new ones are getting suppressed from becoming full blown lesions. It is still early days. I hope there is no more spread. I am facing NO noticeable side effects. My appetite is excellent and there are no stomach problems.

Vinay

Subj: Acyclovir and alcohol
Date: 2/14/2005
Can I drink while taking acyclovir?

Nikki
AskDocWeb: Yes, you can. There are no indications for alcohol.

Subj: Osteoarthritis and Acyclovir
Date: 2/15/2005
I am a 48yr old female with oesto-arthriris in both hip joints. I was diagnosed a year ago and am progressively getting worse – but not enough for any hip replacement yet. I take only Voltaren daily for the pain, which is usually 6-7 out of 10 (10 being unbearable). Last week I started to get a cold sore and began taking Acyclovir 3x a day. I noticed almost immediately that my hip pain diminished considerably. The last couple of days I have walked seriously distances (in excess of a kilometre), unheard of before 4 days ago. My question: is there any co-relation between taking Acyclovir and reducing Arthritis pain? It doesn’t seem logical but to me it seems to be the only thing I have done differently.

Gail

AskDocWeb: Although we found no relationship between the two, isn’t it wonderful to find such relief, congratulations!

Subj: Acyclovir and yeast infections
Date: 2/27/2005
I have had a very bad case of shingles which I took acyclovir. The shingles have begun to heal, but I have developed a bad blistery vaginal infection. The shingles followed my diagnoses of Hodgkins which I had 6 months of chemo and 24 radiation treatments. My question is could acyclovir have the same side effects on a yeast infection as antibiotics do?

Sherry

AskDocWeb: No, Acyclovir is an antiviral and has no affect on yeast.

Subj: Acyclovir dosage for chickenpox
Date: 3/2/2005
I am now taking acyclovir for chickenpox 400 4x per day. Is the dosage enough to help me heal fast and prevent the spread of blisters? (I noticed the small spots approximately 16 hours prior my taking the first capsule) thank you,

Pam

AskDocWeb: Yes, the dosage sounds appropriate for chickenpox.

Subj: Off base?
Date: 3/6/2005
Just noticed some of your advice may be a little off base, then again it could be correct. But in one of your earlier statements you said that a swollen throat was due to a drug allergy. That may be true but with an HSV initial outbreak, extremely swollen lymph nodes is not at all uncommon just wanted to throw that in, could be the medication definitely but thought to consider depends on how acquired infection if known…I suppose would help.

John

AskDocWeb: While we grant that a swollen throat can have more than one cause, if it happens just after beginning use of a new drug, the possibility of an allergic reaction must be checked out.

Subj: Long-term use of Acyclovir
Date: 3/19/2005
If I was prescribed 400mg acyclovir and have been taking it for 3 months, what will happen if I continue to take it for another 3 months?

Tamara

AskDocWeb: You can take this for up to 12 months, then you need your doctor to re-evaluate your condition.

Subj: Acyclovir for chicken pox
Date: 3/29/2005
Last week I used acyclovir-400mg for chicken pox. Here they prescribed me that take 6 tablets in the time span of 4 hours. Then they told me that you can take medicine without taking food. Like that I finished one cycle(25 tablets). This can cause any serious effect in my body.

Samuel

AskDocWeb: Not usually, but when symptoms do show up they may include: abdominal pain, aggressive behavior, agitation, allergic reactions, confusion, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, facial swelling, hallucinations, headache, high blood pressure, joint pain, mania, menstrual problems, nausea, rapid heartbeat, rash, vomiting. If any of these cause concern, contact your doctor immediately.

Subj: Babies and herpes?
Date: 4/2/2005
Can I have a baby if I am with herpes? Currently I am on Acyclovir, 400mg daily, long-term, no outbreak.

Benjamin

AskDocWeb: Yes, you can have a baby. With herpes it means you need to be more careful. Talk with your doctor about what cautions you should use while nursing.

Subj: Side effects of Acyclovir
Date: 4/3/2005
I am taking Acyclovir since Friday and I have been very anxious, dry mouth, sweaty and very hyper like I am on speed. Are these natural side effects?

Jon

AskDocWeb Yes.

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