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: Acyclovir depression
Date: 11/25/2005
Has ever been registered any psychic side effect as depression related to acyclovir?

Leo

AskDocWeb: No.

Subj: Acyclovir and blood glucose
Date: 11/28/2005
Has it ever been reported that acyclovir may possibly increase blood glucose?,

Mohamed

AskDocWeb: No, there’s no connection between the two.

Subj: Genital herpes
Date: 11/29/2005
I have genital herpes and have been taking at least 400 mg of Acyclovir for about four months. A week before I got my first outbreak I had the flu like never before. Then the outbreak, then tonsillitis, then a ruptured cyst on my ovary. Now that everyone mentioned it I’ve never had the chicken pox either…great. My immune system is so low, I catch any and every cold. I’m still having trouble with the ovary even after I took 200 mg of doxycycline for 7 days. There are too many multivitamins to choose from. What can you suggest, with what you would consider key ingredients for a healthy body? I’ve changed my diet but still no results. I’m sluggish, tire easily, and emotionally run down. If anyone has any suggestions please help.

Meagan

AskDocWeb: Hopefully you were immunized against chicken pox when you were younger. It sounds like your body is just run down right now and you need rest. It will take awhile for your body to absorb the fluid from the ruptured cyst. You might double up on the vitamin C, while taking zinc and Centrum multivitamins. If you don’t start to feel better soon get yourself checked for anemia.

Subj: Shingles outbursts
Date: 12/1/2005
My husband has had two outbursts of shingles in the last year approximately 10 months apart. He is young 28 years old. Acyclovir was prescribed both times. Is this normal for someone of his age and if he missed a few doses does it cause immunity and or does adversely affect the healing process of the shingles.

LeeAnn

AskDocWeb: If he missed a few doses, it will slow the healing process and take longer to clear up. In some cases it would require getting another prescription and taking it every day without missing doses. He needs to talk to his doctor to find out what he needs to do.

Subj: Rash
Date: 12/7/2005
My son, who is six, has recurring fever blisters. Our Dr. prescribed 200 mg. three times a day. It seems to work fine for the problem, but he has an apparent rash or, it looks kind of like the skin is chapped around his knuckles and the crease between his thumb and first finger. He only takes the meds for three days, so this should go away. My question is, is this normal, or should I be wary of an allergic reaction. Thanks,

Concerned Dad

AskDocWeb: If it was an allergic reaction he would have had a rash all over. Sounds like dermatitis and can be treated with an ointment prescribed by his physician.

Subj: Blood in stool
Date: 12/12/2005
Can Acyclovir cause blood in the stool? I took one 400 mg pill prior to bedtime and the next morning I noticed the water in the toilet was pink and there were spots of bright blood in my stool. Is this a side effect of taking Acyclovir – one pill can do that over night?

Max

AskDocWeb: It’s not supposed to cause blood in stools, but in it can cause diarrhea. The blood in your stool was probably caused by too hard of a stool. If it doesn’t stop tell your physician about this condition. If your stools continue to be hard, increasing the amount of fiber in your diet should help.

Subj: Acyclovir sore arms
Date: 12/17/2005
My daughter took Acyclovir for ten days. She has noticed that her upper arms are sore. She has not exercised or carried anything heavy. Can this be a side effect? I look forward to your answer. Thank you

Diane

AskDocWeb: Others have reported leg pain so yes, it could be a side effect.

Subj: Acyclovir highly Recommended
Date: 12/18/2005
Before I began taking prophylactic acyclovir for my genital herpes, I had an outbreak at least once a month…for five years. Since taking 400 mg a day every day, I have had four outbreaks TOTAL, all of them puny and over almost before they began. I could not recommend acyclovir more.

Betty

Subj: Pain in sides and chest
Date: 12/25/2005
I was having pain attacks in my sides as well as in my chest was given several different treatments from EKG to Stress test nothing found the latest attack went to the Hospital nothing found a few Days later I had a small rash on my Back with Numbness in my side went to the Doctors showed this to him he said this was shingles he had his Suspicions but I showed no sighs till know I have been taking Acyclovir-800mg x4 daily on the Second day I was getting Muscle pain in my left side legs arms and chest is this Normal side Effect or should I contact my Doctor on this I also take Lyrica 50 mg 3x Daily but there is nothing on this Medication

Troy

AskDocWeb: Go back to your physician. This is not normal for someone taking acyclovir.

Subj: Irregular menstrual cycles
Date: 1/3/2006
I’ve been on Acyclovir for about a year now for HSV2, for outbreak therapy. I was wondering if one of the reported side effects of Acyclovir is irregular menstrual cycles. The past 2 times I have taken it, my period has been 2-4 weeks late. Help!

Curious

AskDocWeb: Acyclovir has not been associated with irregular menstrual cycles but several other drugs are known to do that such as;

• Delatestryl (injection)
• Depo-Provera (contraceptive injection)
• Estratest
• Flovent Rotadisk
• Infergen
• Intron A (injection)
• Ortho Micronor
• Xenical

There are several other causes of irregular menstrual cycles; emotional stress, physical stress, changes in the amount of exercise, and changing birth control can all affect your menses.

Subj: Acyclovir for the H5N1 virus?
Date: 1/7/2006
I was wondering if acyclovir would disrupt the H5N1 virus? A biochemist friend suggested it might be effective. Thanks.

Michael

AskDocWeb: It may be worth investigating but right now we have more questions than answers about the H5N1 virus (bird flu).

Subj: Strange smell
Date: 1/8/2006
Since I have been taking acyclovir for shingles, I have had a strange smell during intercourse from my vaginal area…I’m not sure if this could be a cause for this…Please help. My husband already thinks that this virus is from another man.

Princess

AskDocWeb: You might have your doctor check for any viginal infection, it could be just a yeast infection.

Subj: Acyclovir 400mg during pregnancy?
Date: 1/8/2006
I am pregnant I want to know, can I take acyclovir 400mg? I was taking it before I got pregnant can I still take it.

Tamara

AskDocWeb: Although there is no proven risk in use during pregnancy, since this is a prescription drug, you need to let your doctor decide if it is safe for you to take.

Subj: Hope this helps
Date: 1/10/2006
Greetings: I am an RN and have had herpes simplex I outbreaks since the age of about 2 on my lips. Unfortunately I did not know how contagious this was and found out how easy it was to “autoinnoculate” myself elsewhere…namely, the side of my nose/cheek/eye, ear, thigh. I was overseas and had an awful outbreak (sun usually does it the worst) and saw an MD. He started me on acyclovir 800 QD. That was 7 years ago. I take this stuff religiously and now know that even by missing a couple of hours off my reg schedule (in ONE day) can trigger an outbreak. I was switched to Valcyclovir for about one year and it worked, then one day it stopped working and I had to be switched back to Acyclovir. I understand the chemistry of both and no one including myself knows why the Valcyclovir stopped working. Back to acyclovir 800mg/qd. I don’t know what I would do without it. My lips have severe scarring from herpes. Hope this helps anyone else. 🙂

Wen

Subj: Hair loss
Date: 1/14/2006
I’m taking acyclovir as suppressive therapy for my hsv2. I’ve definitely noticed my hair thinning. A lot! Is there anything I can do about this? Are there vitamins or anything that will counteract the hair loss?

Michelle

AskDocWeb: Since you are using acyclovir for suppressive therapy, there isn’t much you can do about your hair loss except to use a product like Nisim NewHair Biofactors, a hair loss shampoo. Others would like to hear how well this works for you so let us know.

Subj: Genital herpes
Date: 1/15/2006
I was diagnosed with genital herpes five months ago. Since then I get a breakout once a month. While taking the acyclovir I get severe gas and some diarrhea symptoms. Also, after taking a course of acyclovir I end up with a yeast infection. I cannot afford another medications since I am without insurance, and I tried to go with no antibiotics, but it was too unbearable. My questions are these.

1. Is the gas and diarrhea a common side-effect from the medication? What would you suggest to ease the symptoms.

2. Is the yeast infection a side-effect from the medication or just coincidence?

3. If I were to go on daily prophylactic acyclovir would the above two side-effects be a problem, since it would be a lower dose? Thank you.

Michelle

AskDocWeb: A lower dose would produce less in the way of side effects. Although diarrhea is a common side effect, gas was not listed. Read our page about yeast infections. You may find something there that will help.

Subj:
Date: 2/4/2006
I have been taking Acyclovir for a few months to prevent herpes outbreaks and lately I have had severe headaches when I wake up. I stopped taking the medication two days ago and I have not had headaches. Do you think my recurrent headaches can be related to Acyclovir? Thank you,

Katia

AskDocWeb: Yes, others have reported headaches too.

Subj: Severe vertigo
Date: 2/4/2006
I’ve been taking acyclovir – 800 mg – 5 times a day for 8 days and then 3 times a day for the last 4 days. This medication was prescribed for a virus that hit the nerve of the inner ear and caused a severe bout of vertigo. Today my ear lobe is cracking and peeling and hurts. Is this a side effect of the medication?

Mary

AskDocWeb: We wouldn’t say it caused your vertigo. It sounds more like it’s the problem with the ear itself. Go to your physician’s office and have him examine your ear again or go to an ear specialist.

Subj: Heartburn
Date: 2/8/2005
My husband has been taking Acyclovir for chronic mouth ulcers. While it has helped with the ulcers, usual recovery time of 4-5 days is now down to 1 day, he has begun to have issues with heartburn. He had no problems for the first few months on Acyclovir. He does have a very sensitive stomach to begin with and had his gall bladder removed shortly before starting the Acyclovir. I did not see heartburn as a side effect but could it be the cause?

Zita

AskDocWeb: It may cause nausea and vomiting but we find no mention of heartburn.

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