Valtrex: what should I expect?

[alice111]

@Thinktank oh really???! That's kind of what I'm getting like a restless anxiety! Is that what you mean? Like "wired"? Hm I might try backing down then.. I was doing really really well on 1/4 3x day FYI

@cornwellsb I wonder how it impacts hormones..did u read anything about that?

 

[Thinktank]

Yes, exactly like that!
I get the same reaction to many other medications.

 

[cornwellsb]

The dr put me in doxepin (silinor) to help sleep. Simply amazing ... the only thing is you have to take 2 hours before bed and get 8 hours sleep or you feel like a zombie when you wake ... actually I still feel like a zombie when I wake but it passes quick. I have not slept this well since I was a teen.

 

[Thinktank]

@alice111 , so, did you go back to 3 X 1/4 tab a day? Have the side effects lessened?

I'm on fluconazole now for 2 weeks, after that i will start LDN and valtrex, also 2 or 3 X 1/4 tab a day.
I also just received L-lysine, perhaps i'll give that a shot before going on the valtrex.

 

[cornwellsb]

@Thinktank oh really???! That's kind of what I'm getting like a restless anxiety! Is that what you mean? Like "wired"? Hm I might try backing down then.. I was doing really really well on 1/4 3x day FYI

@cornwellsb I wonder how it impacts hormones..did u read anything about that?

No I did not and only my own theory as I feel agggressive and slightly grumpy on them. I have read that it causes anxiety more in women than men but there was no definitive answer as to why. I have to give presentations in front of large groups of people and so far have not felt unusual anxiety. That being said, I have my testosterone checked regularly and it does not seem effected (although slightly better as of late) so I doubt estrogen is effected but there are lots of other hormones in our body that can effect mood.

 

[alice111]

@Thinktank I actually get that reaction to many things as well!!

So I ended up sticking it out on the dose (1/2 tab 3x daily) and the anxiety/restlessness has subsided.

I can't be sure if it was a coincidence or not, but either way I am now forging forward. I will keep you updated!

The one thing I have noticed and maybe @cornwellsb you have some thoughts? It seems like the valtrex might be impacting my cortisol. I say this because I have had some similar symptoms that I had when I was on hydrocortisone. For example, changes in my waking time, puffiness, etc - but these all seem to be fluctuating, so I am not too concerned.. I just find it interesting I guess hah! Guineapig

 

[cornwellsb]

@Thinktank I actually get that reaction to many things as well!!

So I ended up sticking it out on the dose (1/2 tab 3x daily) and the anxiety/restlessness has subsided.

I can't be sure if it was a coincidence or not, but either way I am now forging forward. I will keep you updated!

The one thing I have noticed and maybe @cornwellsb you have some thoughts? It seems like the valtrex might be impacting my cortisol. I say this because I have had some similar symptoms that I had when I was on hydrocortisone. For example, changes in my waking time, puffiness, etc - but these all seem to be fluctuating, so I am not too concerned.. I just find it interesting I guess hah! Guineapig

Maybe ... my dr actually requested cortisol tests for some reason which I find out Friday. She didn't say why.

 

[cornwellsb]

The Dr did say I had markers for yeast overgrowth / candida ... put me on nystatin once a day. Interesting side effect is I stopped craving sweets!

 

[Thinktank]

Thanks for the update @alice111
I'm glad to hear that the anxiety has subsided.

I wouldn't mind it if valtrex increased cortisol a bit, i've been deficient in cortisol for years now.

 

[Thinktank]

I've tried valtrex twice now, even a very low dosage of 1/4 tab twice daily makes me feel kinda restless.
I've also noticed it intensifies my viral symptoms and i get this annoying pain in my neck.
@alice111 , sorry to bother you again, but how's it going for you? You've been on it for a bitter over a month now.

 

[alice111]

@Thinktank glad you asked I meant to give an update! So I'm up to 1 tab (500mg) 3 times a day. So far I'm definitely seeing improvements. I'm also having some strange things happening but I feel like that's just going to be part of the process... so far nothing that sticks around for long

As for your reaction have you tried starting at 1/8 of a tab, I realized I think that's actually what I started at! how long have the symptoms lasted, like how long have you stayed on a dose for? Also just a thought but I was already on LDN are you on it? The other thing I was taking before starting was the KI which I think i linked in an earlier post?

 

[drob31]

I had no side-effects with valtrex, but I also had no benefits from it... I was taken off of it in around 3-4 b/c my doc said that was when I could have expected an effect.

By 3-4, do you mean 3-4 months?

 

[drob31]

I started 1.5 months on Valtrex (l gram x 3 day) and L-Lysine (same). In addition Vit B complex, AHCC, Alpha CRS, Maitak DMG, Baicalin, tumeric, cats claw, licorice root, immuno DMG (Beta Glucan), CBD. I eat clean, non-gmo mostly fruit smoothies laced with tumeric, ginger, thyme and cilantro.

I'm having good days and bad. Still more bad than good though. I can now feel this "thing" cycle daily as well as every 3-4 days I'll get slammed.

I was originally diagnosed with Parkinson's. I am now having almost no tremor (Off all PD meds, yay!) Anti-inflammatories really help too, especially for the neurological aspect.

So, I can say that I have improvement but a long ways to go. My Doc says somewhere close to a year for his patients. He's treated over 2000 with a 70% success rate.

Have you ever been tested for Lyme?

 

[drob31]

@Thinktank glad you asked I meant to give an update! So I'm up to 1 tab (500mg) 3 times a day. So far I'm definitely seeing improvements. I'm also having some strange things happening but I feel like that's just going to be part of the process... so far nothing that sticks around for long

As for your reaction have you tried starting at 1/8 of a tab, I realized I think that's actually what I started at! how long have the symptoms lasted, like how long have you stayed on a dose for? Also just a thought but I was already on LDN are you on it? The other thing I was taking before starting was the KI which I think i linked in an earlier post?

Glad to hear it's working for you. Personally I had slightly elevated titers for EBV/HHV6 last year. The I got sick, and the hospital tested for EBV and it came back positive, which I think meant the titers went way back up again. In any case I think ebv is involved somehow. So I ordered some Valtrex from alldaychemist to try out. I've been doing ok lately from vitamin C, so I haven't started it yet, but I do know there are many things I can try.

Another thing I should mentioned is that nexavir would cover HHV6 and EBV as well.

 

[Thinktank]

@alice111 , i've started back on the valtrex today, 3 x 1/8 tab. So far so good. I will try to push through the restless anxiety phase because i've nothing to do for the coming weeks anyway.
How long did it take for you to build up to 3 x 500mg?

I've ordered LDN last week actually, i'm planning to start on 0.5 mg/daily or even lower than that.
I tried LDN a few times before at 1.5mg but it always gave me insomnia.

The KI immune support herbal formula contains;
Astragalus membranaceus root 5g (Astragalus)
Lentinula edodes mushroom 3g (Shiitake Mushroom)
Olea europaea leaf 2g (Olive tree leaf)

 

[edawg81]

I'm also on valtrex 1g twice a day, for 4 months (with a six week break a 1.5g/day due to insomnia). I'm trying to get to 3g/day but everytime I go above 2g, I get more feverishness and my insomnia gets a lot worse. Before I was on this protocol I was on famvir 1g/ day and valtrex 1g/ day for month till i settled on a treatment protocol. I have high EBV and CMV IGG titers and tested positive for EBV EA. So far since my onset in May my feverishness symptoms have calmed down some and I would like to think the Valtrex has something to do with it. I hope to see more dramatic improvement if I can tolerate a higher dose over the next few months based on Lerner's protocol. I am treating the insomnia and anxiety with other meds now and that seems to help some. Its hard to tell what symptoms are the illness and whats from the valtrex.

 

[alice111]

@Thinktank oh good! I hope it works out for you! Just go super slow, so far the feeling happens every some times when I increase, but it does pass! I think I increased by 1/8 every 5 days. so for example
Day 1 1/8 tab once
Day 6 1/8 tab twice daily
Etc so literally only increasing ONE of my doses my an 1/8 I knooow it's painfully slow haha but I've found if I do things that way in the end it's quicker cus I don't end up having to start and restart things so much.

As for the LDN defs start at 0.5 I take mine in the morning, and with that one I increased by 0.5 every two weeks

When I hit 3.5 things got bad so I had to back down, it seems 2.5 is my sweet spot and I've been doing really well on it.

Also just a warning if u do try the KI it's pretty powerful, again my "sweet spot" was less than the advised dose, I take 1/2 a tablet twice a day.

Let me know how it goes!

 

[Ellie K]

By 3-4, do you mean 3-4 months?

yeah, I meant 3-4 months

 

[Thinktank]

Well, i couldn't even tolerate 1/8th of a valtrex pill a day without feeling restless so i'm going to try valcyte next.

Hope you are doing well @alice111

 

[alice111]

@Thinktank oh no! Sorry to hear that that's so frustrating! there's Also famvir, I don't know how it compares to the other two tho..

I'm doing ok! I havent increased again, I had a pretty bad crash so been waiting to recover. It was fully my fault hah! Anyway overall still feeling like I'm having improvements (knock on wood)

I wonder if you should give LDN a try first?