How do you deal with Die-off from Antivirals?

[minkeygirl]

I just started on Famvir. I took 125 mgs 2 times yesterday then this morning I took 250 mgs.

Last night lying in bed I was breathing like I ran a marathon which is not normal for me.

This morning I could barely get out of bed (before my morning dose) and I have a headache, mild nausea and I'm still clobbered.

I did take some Senna last night (a brand I hadn't used before) so it may be some of that but I'm going to assume this is herxing, which is a good thing. It's killing some critters that the acyclovir was not.

I'm going to go back down to 125 mgs twice a day since this is so much fun!

Do I just tough if out? I don't really want an antiemetic since the nausea is not that bad and they are too sedating.

Thanks

 

[Seven7]

I stayed on 125 for 3 days, one pill for 2 weeks then went up. If herxing then go back to previous dose.

 

[minkeygirl]

@Inester7, That was my plan but then I decided to try 250 mgs and that just did me in so back to my original plan.

I went up really slowly when I started on Acyclovir and had no problems at all.

Thanks

 

[vamah]

With valcyte I mostly just toughed it out and got a lot of rest. I did not have nausea though.

You can try things for detox like chlorella (which I personally don't like), warm baths, drink lots of water.

Reaction only lasted for about a week for me, then slowly went back to my baseline. Hope it doesn't last too long for you.

 

[vamah]

Also okay to skip a dose to give your body a break.

 

[minkeygirl]

I'm drinking a lot of water. I just did it to myself by starting too quickly. I'm feeling a tad better so won't take any tonight and then start on 125 mgs tomorrow.

Can't take cholorella. It constipates me.

I can handle a week if I had to. I'm lucky I live alone so can do what I want an when I want.

Thanks all.

 

[SOC]

Theoretically, you shouldn't herx with antivirals like you might with some antibacterials. I think that's because the usual antivirals don't directly kill the virus-infected cells, they just stop the virus from replicating. The infected cells still need to be killed off by your immune system or die a natural death -- or something like that.

So you shouldn't get the sudden massive die-off of the pathogen that is thought to cause the Herxheimer reaction. I'd guess it's more likely that you are having a bad rxn to the antiviral itself. Backing down on your dose (and calling your doc, of course) seems like a good idea in that case. You might have to start low and go slow to get up to a therapeutic dose.

 

[ukxmrv]

Could it be IRIS?

or another type of immune reaction?

I remember when having IVIG we were told to take Benadryl in case of a bad reaction.

 

[minkeygirl]

I spoke to someone who got Famvir from Dr. Rey so I'm going to follow that protocol

125 a day for a week, then add 125 a day for a week, another 125 week 3 and then 250 twice a day.

I also am going to stay on 800 mgs acyclovir while doing this. I feel much better on it and if it helps all the better. I'll stop once I"m on the full dose of Famvir.

@ukxmrv, could be any but no way to know and doesn't alter the fact I took too much and had a bad reaction.

 

[ukxmrv]

Good luck Minkeygirl,

Sorry to hear about the bad reaction. Wasn't trying to negate it or anything by suggesting IRIS. Bad reactions as I have found out can be dangerous.

Glad to hear you are better with the Acyclovir.

 

[minkeygirl]

Good luck Minkeygirl,

Sorry to hear about the bad reaction. Wasn't trying to negate it or anything by suggesting IRIS. Bad reactions as I have found out can be dangerous.

Glad to hear you are better with the Acyclovir.

I know you weren't. I was just saying I didn't know. MUCH better day today. Will stick with 125 mgs daily for a week and will take at least 400 mgs acyclovir and go from there.