About Acyclovir

If you’ve used Acyclovir, please help others by sharing your experience with side effects. 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.

How long to use Acyclovir?
Date: 1/11/2014
I have had singles on the scalp for 6 weeks. The lesions have cleared up. However, I still have burning pains that feel like barb wire drilling into scalp and now that that is somewhat relieved I have severe itching on scalp. I have been taking aclovir approximately 4weeks. How long should the aclovir treatment be continued? I am also on neurontin.

Deanna

AskDocWeb: The length of time for treatment varies with the individual and their condition. Although the optimal duration of treatment has not been defined, Acyclovir is usually taken for 10 days for shingles. Patients usually notice an improvement in symptoms within the first 5 days of starting treatment. Since your symptoms have persisted beyond that, talk to your doctor about the pain and itching.

There are also a few home remedies you might consider. Some patients find that taking a warm bath (not hot) with a cup of baking soda in it helps ease pain and itching.

Apple cider vinegar is another topical pain reliever. A cotton ball or pad is dipped in apple cider vinegar and dabbed directly on the shingles blisters. This can be done as often as necessary to help control the pain. Apple cider vinegar also helps the blisters dry faster, heal, and disappear.

Some people make their own pain relief ointment using a combination of aloe vera gel and cayenne pepper. A small amount of cayenne pepper is mixed with aloe vera gel (if you have an aloe plant, break off a leaf for the fresh, most potent gel) and gently applied to the shingles blisters. The cayenne pepper helps disinfect the shingles area, as it has antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Mood swings and anger
Date: 1/14/2014
Hi, I have been on Acyclovir 400 mg twice a day for the past several years for suppression, and was wondering if mood swings and anger is a side effect, as well as mild hair loss?

Tony

AskDocWeb: Mood changes and agitation are listed among the possible side effects of Acyclovir that should be immediately reported to your doctor. Hair loss is a possible side effect but how frequently that occurs has not been determined.

Serious side effects from acyclovir
Date: 1/21/2014
I have had some of the more serious side effects from acyclovir. Today (214) is the last day I have to take it. I think it’s helped with the shingles outbreak but people need to know that there can be some nasty side effects…loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting any solid food, extreme thirst, dizzyness and clumsyness, sleepiness, headache and difficulty urinating (even though I drink so much water, at least 3-4 liters a day).

I’ve had no weight loss even with eating nothing but saltines and drinking water so am assuming I’m retaining water. Am hoping that since I just took my last dose a few moments ago that I should start feeling better by the end of the day. I know some of these are listed but I encourage people to pay attention to the side effects and report them to your medical professional. Also get the shingles vaccine. I never want to have this again or take the meds for it!

KL

Alcohol?
Date: 2/5/2014
I am on my 9th day of Acyclovir. I am taking 800mg 5 times a day for 10 days due to shingles on my lip and under. I thought it was a cold sore due to me being sick the week before but I never had one so big and Doc says its shingles. I have had headaches each day but then again he said Shingles follow the nerves and that why Im having headaches in the back of my head. Today was first day not waking up with a headache. I have noticed some side effects but nothing I could not handle. I started tanning in a tanning bed since I was getting better and no bad reactions but is this safe for me? Could I also have some drinks from time to time?

Shannon

AskDocWeb:
It is helpful to identify those factors that might trigger an outbreak, and these can vary from one individual to the next. They may include:

• Alcohol
• Anything that lowers a person’s immunity
• High or prolonged stressful situations
• Illness
• Lack of sleep
• Over-exposure to sunlight, sunburn
• Tanning bed use

Although alcohol is on that list it is not a herpes trigger for everyone.

My whole body hurts
Date: 2/12/2014
I just got the blood results back I have herpes hsv1 and hsv2. The only way to find out if you have herpes is a blood test and what kind you have. I have been taking acyclovir 400 mg 3 times a day its got a lot of side effects but I will take it. My outbreaks are not real bad yet this is my frist out break just hope and pray it don’t get real bad. I have seen some of the pictures what could happen its a little scary for what it is going to happen to me down in the whoo whoo area and the mouth. if anyone has anything that wood be helpful I will be so great full things

Cherie

PSS I just found out today from the doctor that that herpes lives in your spine and blood my spine hurts sosososososososososo bad also my whole body hurts it really does I don’t wear underwear or heavy clothing that way u don’t make the herpes worse also hope I don’t get them in eye but I have them around the eye my nose is getting them all over they hurt I have something oozing in my mouth that makes me deadly sick. I cant hardely stand it went to the denest today and he took exrays he wont take a needle to see why I push on my gums theres puss comeing out I am not rich I was getting very stressed out about what I had but I have calmed down cause stress wont help if anyone has anything to say to me please tell me I am ready to hear it think you

Cherie

No side effects
Date: 2/15/2014
I was given acyclovir 3x a day for a month after being diagnosed with shingles on my left side. It was especially painful in the breast area. After the first day the pain had almost gone away completely. I have not had any side effects that I have read about here so I guess I have been lucky.

Kristi

What does Acyclovir cream do?
Date: 2/16/2014
My doctor diagnosed me with HSV 1 and prescribed the acyclovir cream for my lips. My outbreaks aren’t a cold sore but are more of like tiny blisters. When I put the cream it almost likes absorbs in the blister and the next day I’m like scrapping the blisters off. But they burn! My questions is what exactly does this cream do? Make the blisters slide off?

Sarah

AskDocWeb: Acyclovir doesn’t make the blisters slide you’re your body’s immune system does that. Once the cream is absorbed into the skin it changes into a more active form inside effected cells. Acyclovir works by inserting itself into viral DNA, which prevents further growth of the virus and prevents the infection from spreading to nearby cells. This allows your body’s natural immune system to deal with the infection.

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