Feedback on Valtrex Side Effect and Usage, page 38

About Valtrex

If you use Valtrex, 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: Facial swelling
Date: 10/30/2009
I took Valtrex yesterday for suspected Shingles and my face has blown up and my eyes are almost closed, with little water blisters on my face. The Dr has me waiting around for blood tests to wok out what went wrong but in the meantime I’ve only got Telfast to take once a day. Any idea on what I can be doing while I wait for my head to explode?

Jenny

AskDocWeb: There really isn’t much you can do other than wait it out and follow your doctor’s instructions.

Subj: I am tired of cold sores!
Date: 11/2/2009
I am wondering how long will the cold sore last if I am taking valtrex? I am a 13 year old. I get break outs every month. It gets me very mad because I dont like to go to school with cold sore on me. Can I take two of them when I get the cold sore? Please help me I am tired of these cold sores!!!

Katlyn

AskDocWeb: Valtrex reduces the amount of time that it takes the sores to heal. High doses of Valtrex have proven to be dangerous for some people so take only what your doctor has instructed. The Valtrex should begin working within 24 hours with some relief. All pain should cease within 3 to 5 days.

Subj: Using Valtrex while pregnant
Date: 11/2/2009
just a review on valtrex, I was terrified to take valtrex when I found out I was pregnant. I searched and searched for answers on whether or not to take it during pregnancy my doctor told me to stop taking it and my gyno told me to keep taking it…aarrrhhh, confusing. I took valtrex my whole pregnancy including the first trimester, one 500mg tablet daily for genital herpes. I delivered a perfectly healthy 9 pound 5oz bot 12 days ago naturally… no problems!!!! I’m not telling you to take valtrex while pregnant I’m just telling my story because this is what I was looking for while I was pregnant…hope!

Janelle

AskDocWeb: Thanks for sharing your story Janelle. There are many women looking for just that kind of feedback.

Subj: Ears are plugged
Date: 11/5/2009
Every time I take valtrex my ears are plugged for hours feels like I am going deaf. Should I stop?

Hi

AskDocWeb: Valtrex is used to treat some inner ear viral infections but we have not heard of it causing the ears to feel like that. I sounds like you need to check back with your doctor.

Subj: Are they kidding me?
Date: 11/7/2009
After starting Valtrex, my daughter had stiff neck, muscle contratures, speech problems, vomiting. After 3 ER visits, we were told that it was an anxiety issue & not a reaction to the Valtrex. Are they kidding me? Advice please. She is off the Valtrex but continues with symptoms. She is only off it for 1 day. Will she be okay?

Dorothy

AskDocWeb: No, they are not kidding you. That is not something that the people in the ER joke about. Valtrex has not been reported to cause any speech problem or muscle spasms.

Subj: Stronger then valtrex?
Date: 11/12/2009
I was prescribed valtrex 500mg once a day twice a day if I’m having or sence an outbreak. Can taking more then the prescribed dose to prevent an outbreak cause an outbreak? Is there anything stronger then valtrex I can take in order to prevent and relief my outbreaks.

Kat

AskDocWeb: Currently there is nothing stronger than Valtrex but it may be possible to adjust your prescription to a higher dosage. Depending on what you treating, the dosage can range all the way up to one gram (1000 mg) three times a day. There is also the possibility that your body might respond better to a different drug. There are no reports of an overdose causing an outbreak.

Subj: Time limit on Valtrex?
Date: 11/13/2009
Is valtrex something you take for the rest of your life to manage Herpes, or is there a time limit?

Somer

AskDocWeb: There is no set time limit on how long you can safely take Valtrex. Some people may take it for the rest of their life but others don’t need to do that. There is some evidence that suggests over time the body develops experience with coping with the virus and the number of outbreaks goes down. If that happens patients may be able to change from daily therapy to taking it only as needed at the first sign of an outbreak.

Subj: Changes in the menstrual cycle
Date: 11/16/2009
I have been using this for about 6 months, and I haven’t had anymore outbreaks since, but my period has been very different, usually it’s kind of heavy, and lasts about a week, and I feel some cramps, but the past 3 months it’s lasted maybe 2 or 3 days, and barely any blood at all, I don’t even need a tampon when before I needed to change it a couple times through out the day. I’m not stressed at all, my life is great actually so I thought maybe it had to do with the valtrex…any suggestions?

Dani

AskDocWeb: While Valtrex has been reported to sometimes cause changes in the menstrual cycle, it should be noted that sometimes those changes are beneficial. Enjoy!

Subj: After effects of shingles
Date: 11/19/2009
Since I have moderately high BP (138/88) I check it twice a day. Several days before I observed the initial shingles rash (face) my BP elevated into the 140s/90s. I made it to the Doctor within 48 hours and took a seven day prescription of Valtrex successfully. Since the outbreak was on my head, I had sensations of skin tightness, especially on the back of my head. A month has passed and my BP remains elevated and the skin tightness remains. Since Valtrex just relieves the symptoms of the shingles am I still feeling the after effects that are often associated with a shingles outbreak?

Greg

AskDocWeb: Someimes shingles can leave after effects such as neuralgia, in which the localized pain remains even after the rash is gone. Depending on the nerves involved, shingles can affect many parts of the body but typically they affect only a small section of one side of your body. The symptoms may include some or all of the following:

Pain, burning, numbness or tingling
Fatigue
Fever and chills
Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
General achiness
Headache
Itching
Red rash that begins a few days after the pain

It is especially important to contact your doctor in the following situations:

You or someone in your family has a weakened immune system.
The pain and rash occur near your eyes.
The rash is widespread and painful.

If left untreated, an infection near the eyes can lead to permanent eye damage.

Subj: Dull dry skin
Date: 11/19/2009
I had moderate acne and I was prescribed Retin-A. It worked GREAT! I noticed my acne fadding away the first two weeks. BUT…after using it for various months I noticed my skin was getting extremely dull and dry and the texture was different. With continual use of this product you will thin out your skin. DONT USE IT more than 3 months at a time. My dermatologist never told me that. I damaged my skin I used it for almost 2yrs none stop. I now go to a spa and get my facials most of my acne is gone they just helps hydrate my skin now due to the use of Retin A. My spa recommends to use Retin-A no more than 3 months. Then stop for 3 months and then start again until acne subsides.

Adamant

Subj: Side effects for the elderly
Date: 11/30/2009
I am responsible for my 90-yr old uncle who got an attack of shingles on his arm. He took a total of 4 doses of Valtrex (1000 mg caplets) and became markedly hyper, unusually alert and had tremors. He takes hydralazine for kidney function and has sleep apnea (and won’t use his BiPAP). Even 36-48 hours after stopping the Valtrex, he displayed tremors and some mild hallucinations. The side effects for the elderly need much more emphasis.

Arlene

Subj: Prolonged use of herpes treatments
Date: 12/4/2009
I was told that taking Valtrex and similar herpes treatment medications for a prolonged time (five years or more) could have an adverse effect. Is this true? I am currently using episodic treatment because of what I was told, but would prefer to take preventative treatment if this information is inaccurate. Aunt Flo brings a nasty little visitor almost every single time, and quite honestly I prefer to deal with it as little as possible….it’s hard enough just being a girl, ya know. Thanks in advance.

Stacey

AskDocWeb: Most of the time Valtrex is considered very safe for long-term use but statistics on the side effects of long-term use do not seem to be available. There have been reports of developing liver enzyme abnormalities (rare) and hepatitis.

Subj: It works wonderfully
Date: 12/7/2009
I have been on Valtrex 1 gm once a day for prevention of bad cold sore out breaks for about 2 years and I have had one cold sore in that time. It works wonderfully. I used to get them every time I would get sick, sun burned, stressed out, on my period and any other reason you could think of. Recently my new dr. gave me zovirax 800mg a day. What is the difference? How will it work different? Will the off brand not work as well? Should I take more mg of the zovirax?

Sarah

AskDocWeb: So far no significant difference has been found between the effectiveness of Zovirax and Valtrex. They are quite safe and rarely produce any side effects. In many cases Zovirax is taken 4 to 5 times a day where Valtrex is 3 times a day but your doctor will prescribe the appropriate dosage for you.

Subj: Increase the chances of an outbreak?
Date: 12/10/2009
I was just diagnosed…Can exercising 3 days a week and tanning increase the chances of an outbreak?

Ang

AskDocWeb: There are several factors that have been found to increase the chances of an outbreak, stress that weakens your immune system, lack of sleep, letting yourself get run down, eating a poor diet, and exposure to sunlight. A certain amount of exercise is necessary to maintain a healthy body but overdoing it can increase outbreaks. Sunlight has been found to increase both the frequency and intensity of outbreaks so we would avoid tanning and use a sunscreen.

Subj: Noticeable hair loss
Date: 12/15/2009
I have been taking supressive does of Valtrex for about 8 months. During the past 2-3 months I have a noticeable hair loss. I had nice normal hair and now the scalp is showing basically in the front hairline, but thinning allover. I am going to discontinue TONIGHT! How awful, I was not aware of this side affect.

Deb

Subj: Generic Valtrex
Date: 12/20/2009
As an FYI to all Valtrex users. Generic now available for Valtrex. Valtrex patent expired this month. For those that had to bear the high cost of this medication, there now is a less expensive version.

Danny

AskDocWeb: Yes, thanks for the reminder Danny. The generic Valtrex is called Valacyclovir. Read more feedback about Valtrex. Valtrex report – 35 – 36 – 37 – Page 38 – 39 – 40 – 41 – Last Page 58

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