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: NO appetite
Date: 6/27/2010
I was just diagnosed with genital herpes this past week, though the culture came back as positive herpes 1 – blood test results pending. I was prescribed Valtrex and on the 2nd day in the middle of the night I woke up and had a huge swollen rash behind my knee. Another was forming behind my other knee. I went back to the dr. the next day and she prescribed Acyclovir and I started taking that immediately and a Benadryl before bed. The rash went away within a day or so and I noticed a difference immediately in the healing of the herpes. I am still taking a Benadryl before bed each night that I’m on this med just to be safe. The only side effect I’m having from Acyclovir is that I have absolutely NO appetite. Yesterday at 10pm I realized I hadn’t eaten the whole day and forced something in me. I just hope when I get off the pills I’m not ravenously hungry.

JP

Subj: Deferol?
Date: 6/27/2010
Can I take deferol while taking acyclovir?

Arty

AskDocWeb: There are no drug interactions listed between Acyclovir and Deferol (“longer lasting sex & ejaculation control”).

Subj: Hair loss
Date: 6/30/2010
I had been taking Acyclovir for outbreaks with much success for about 10 years without any noticeable side effects. About 1.5 years ago, I decided to try it daily (just 200mg daily) to protect my partner. About 6 months in, I noticed hair loss, but I had not heard about this side effect and my doctor didn’t make the connection. Last week, I read up on the side effects and stopped taking it. I am hoping that my hair will start to fill in again. Can anyone give me some hope that my hair will come back?

Michele

AskDocWeb: Unfortunately the range of responses to drug-induced hair loss is too large to be reassuring, anywhere from 6 months to 72 months for resolution. For most people, once the trigger for drug-induced hair loss is gone, there is a high probability that the hair will grow back but that doesn’t help when you need the drug for suppression purposes.

Subj: Hair loss?
Date: 7/1/2010
Why does acylovir cause hair loss? I dont see how the non replication of the virus could affect the hair- tests need to be started to find out if acylovir long term does cause hair loss in some people and not in others.

Claudia

Subj: Grateful for Acyclovir
Date: 7/1/2010
I have The Shingles and luckily was diagnosed in the recommended 72 hours. I have been taking Acyclovir 800mg five times a day and are grateful for taking it within 3 days of my symptoms and have only had minor symptoms allowing me to enjoy everyday activities. I would hate to imagine the pain I would of experienced without this medication.

Judith

Subj: Aspirin for pain?
Date: 7/4/2010
The doctor has me on acyclovir for shingles. Can I take aspirin with this for pain?

melissa

AskDocWeb: The patient information for Acyclovir says that Aspirin or other pain pills may help with headaches. If your side effects are severe then your dosage may need to be adjusted.

Subj: Gunk in her eyes
Date: 7/5/2010
My 18month old daughter had what appeared to be a rash or bite on the back of her arm…we waited thinking it would go away…it then appeared a few days later on one of fingers. I took her to the Dr. a couple days ago they prescribed ACYCLOVIR last night she started have “gunk” in her eyes..this morning they are matted shut…is this a side effect of the medicine?

Holly

AskDocWeb: Acyclovir is not known to cause any kind of eye gunk or mat the eyes shut. Allergies sometimes have that affect but then so does conjunctivitis (pink eye) so it is best to check back with your doctor.

Subj: Acyclovir as a prophylactic
Date: 7/22/2010
I am 64 year old female. I began to have itching on my left cheekbone under my eye about a week ago which has now become a sharp, uncomfortable pins sensation. Would it be wise to use acyclovir as a prophylactic against shingles or wait for a lesion to develope? Wouldn’t it be more effective before lesions begin?

Kathy
AskDocWeb: That would depend on your doctor’s evaluation of your condition. Remember that the focus of this website is limited to side effects.

Subj: Acyclovir is a lifesaver
Date: 7/22/2010
I’ve been dealing with herpes out breaks since I was a teenager, I’m now 38yrs and I wanted people to know that this virus hides itself in the nerves of the body. For me, when I get an out break, it feels like I’m having severe sciatic pain, all the way down the back of my leg and foot. I’m a licensed massage therapist and I help people with real sciatic problems all the time. (If you were wondering how I knew..) Anyway, I do take acyclovir and haven’t had any side effects. It’s been a life saver for me.

Sandy

Subj: Acyclovir saved my life
Date: 7/24/2010
I have used aciclovir for 18 years, 400mg tablets twice daily at 8am and 8pm this medication has saved my life, i always have it after breakfast and tea, mixed in a large glass of water, also i try to keep away from sugary foods and agrnine foods such as all nuts peanuts etc, you can down load the foods you should and shoudnt eat, with herpes problems, lysin is a plus for herpes sufferers.

Anna

Subj: Misdiagnosed?
Date: 7/24/2010
How long do it take for acyclovir to work on genital herpes? For some reason I feel its not working, and I feel I have been misdiagnosed. Has it happened before?

Pearl
AskDocWeb: Yes, a lot of patients with other diseases are misdiagnosed with herpes. For example, fixed drug eruptions can sometimes manifest with herpes-like genital lesions, as can allergic contact dermatitis following exposure to condoms, semen, or benzocaine sprays used by some men to delay ejaculation. In one patient support group for genital herpes in New York, when tested for HSV, 15% of patients did not actually have herpes. Here is a list of conditions that may be mistakenly diagnosed as genital herpes:

• Aphthous ulcers
• Behet’s syndrome
• Bullous pemphigoid
• Candidiasis
• Chancroid
• Chlamydia
• Erythema multiforme
• Genital ulcers (not all ulcers are due to herpes)
• Genital warts
• Gonorrhea
• Granuloma inguinale
• Herpangina
• Herpes zoster
• Impetigo
• Lymphogranuloma venereum
• Molluscum contagiosum
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Pemphigus
• Reactive arthritis
• Scabies
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Syphilis
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• Trauma
• Varicella

Any time you doubt your healthcare professional or their diagnosis, you can get a second opinion.

Subj: Terrible hair loss!
Date: 7/29/2010
The Dr. tested me and said I caught the herpesV1 from my ex-husband while we were together and I was pregnant. I took the acyclovir only when needed for approx. 5 yrs. now, but the outbreaks have become more frequent and worse because of stress I believe, so I began suppressively taking it for about a 1 1/2 mos. or so and I already had trouble with numbness and tingling in my hands and feet, hot flashes, and back pain, which were listed on side effects on my paperwork.

Now I’m getting terrible hair loss! I didn’t know this until I thought I was going crazy and looked it up. I’ve had physicals since then so my heart is fine, my thyroid fine, blood sugar fine, I even had an MRI for the head aches and that was fine. I used to take 400 mg. 5 times a day when needed, and now take it once a day and cutting down to 200 to see what happens. Is there a lesser dosage I could try? I’ve tried Valtrex and had severe headaches. By the way, the backaches are so bad that I have trouble walking and it was listed on possible side effects as well…I can’t function and work this way…I’m a single mom of 4 and work as a hairdresser and it’s my livelyhood for us to survive…

Michelle
AskDocWeb: Sorry Michelle, only your doctor can answer questions about changes in your dosage. That would also give you an opportunity to ask about what alternatives might work better for you.

Subj: Rash on back
Date: 7/29/2010
I have used Acyclovir off and on for over 20 years for frequent herpes outbreaks on my lips. It worked well to reduce the healing time. But it became such a problems I was put on Valtrex with is Acyclovir only at a higher dose, it comes in a blue tablet. I have taken it 500mg daily for several years with outbreaks only coming once a year so they are under control. But recently I have developed a rash on my back and I gone to several doctors (a dermatologist and an allergist) who cannot figure out what is causing it. Have any suggestions?

Kristy
AskDocWeb: Only to note that a skin rash is one of the possible side effects of Acyclovir. If you find out what is causing it, please let us know.

Subj: L-Lysene
Date: 7/29/2010
Since I was a child I have had Cold sores on my lip once a year every year as the weather changed from summer to fall (maybe the stress of starting school, I was a very shy child) Any at about 25 I got the chicken pox, which I never had as a child, it was a mild case. I found a supplement called L-Lysene and have been taking it on a regular basis and have not had one cold sore since starting it. It is not a drug but a vitamin, from what I understand. Maybe it can help some of you?

CHRISTINE

Subj: Online without a prescription?
Date: 7/30/2010
Is it legal to buy this product online without a prescription? I have had herpes simplex 1 since childhood but didnt know if you could buy it online this way.

Lori
AskDocWeb: Among other things, a prescription is a doctor’s legal permission to purchase a government regulated drug. In order to be legal a prescription is required.

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