Insomnia from Valtrex?

[tiredlight]

Wonder if I got my insomnia from Valtrex which I started some days ago or if it's just coincidence?

 

[TheMoonIsBlue]

Yes, I had this problem as well. Sorry no solution except stick it out to see if it improves, find a med that will help you sleep better, or maybe try another AV.

 

[tiredlight]

Then maybe its no coincidence. When did you sleep normal again after stopping it?
Anyone else with insomnia from Valtrex?

 

[ukxmrv]

I've had no insomnia at all from Valtrex. Really sorry to hear that you have. Adds another insult to having this horrible disease when we get side effects.

What I have had for a long time though is an altered sleep pattern with a delayed onset of sleep. I'm a night person but most people in my family are (and it pre-dates the ME). Maybe I don't notice it.

How much valtrex are you taking and at what time(s)?

 

[TheMoonIsBlue]

Hi TiredLight

Well, when I took the brand name Valtrex years ago (4grams a day) the insomnia/trouble sleeping was sort of hit and miss. I already had and have all sorts of chronic crazy sleep probles, the valtrex just made it worse.

I did recently try to take valtrex again (a generic this time) and the insomnia came on almost instantly- and I wasn't expecting it because I was only taking 500x3. I pushed through but it just got worse and worse and I was getting terrible stomach aches/bloating and muscle pain as well. It took a few weeks for everything to settle down again after I stopped it.

Are you taking a generic? I was going to recommend maybe switching to a different generic manufacturer. You'd be suprised how different generics can affect the body.

There is also acyclovir you could try (VERY cheap) or Famvir (also generic now).

Best of luck

 

[Jenny]

I've been on valaciclovir (generic) for 18 months, now 2gm a day. I've always had periods of insomnia and periods of sleeping 14 hours a day - the valaciclovir hasn't made any difference. I've tried three different brands and I haven't noticed any difference between them.

Jenny

 

[SOC]

I have had no insomnia problems with Valtrex, but I do take meds to help with sleep, so that could be eliminating the insomnia effect. FWIW, the ME/CFS doc who prescribes my Valtrex (and has a lot of experience with it) says he's seen problems with the generics other than Mylan or Teva (sp?) brands. I know some of the problem was with effectiveness, but maybe there were problem side effects as well. Might be worth trying the Mylan or Teva if you're not taking one of them already.

 

[TheMoonIsBlue]

You know I searched high and low for teva or mylan but NO pharmacy had anything but Ranbaxy or Sandoz. Not even mail order.

I had the insomnia problems with the name brand valtrex too though....and the severe stomach bloating. I would look 6 months preggo and felt like my stomach was going to burst, just couldnt take it anymore

SOC do you plan on staying on the valtrex indefinitely?

 

[SOC]

You know I searched high and low for teva or mylan but NO pharmacy had anything but Ranbaxy or Sandoz. Not even mail order.

I had the insomnia problems with the name brand valtrex too though....and the severe stomach bloating. I would look 6 months preggo and felt like my stomach was going to burst, just couldnt take it anymore

SOC do you plan on staying on the valtrex indefinitely?

Sounds dreadful! I'm glad not to have had that kind of rxn to Valtrex.

Not that you probably want to try Valtrex again, but if you did -- you can ask your doctor to specify the brands. Then the pharmacies can order it directly from the distributor, I think. They won't do it otherwise because of agreements with various manufacturers/distributors or some such thing.

I don't know for sure about the Valtrex. I'm open to staying on it indefinitely, but since I'm switching specialists I'll probably go with whatever my new specialist recommends.

My daughter has stayed on Valtrex for the 10 months or so that she's been in remission as a prophylactic measure, as I understand it. Since she doesn't seem to be able to keep herpesviruses is remission, this seemed like a good plan. Whether she stays on them will probably depend on the results of her immune tests in September. We'll re-evaluate then.

 

[heapsreal]

AN alternative to valtrex that may help u avoid insomnia is famvir, worth a shot and also potentially treats more viruses then valtrex.

cheers!!!

 

[tiredlight]

How much valtrex are you taking and at what time(s)?

I started with tiniest doses you can image (far less than one pill) since I am so hypersensitive - but still got insomnia.

 

[ukxmrv]

Sorry to hear that Tiredlight. I found that Valtrex didn't have any good effects for me until I took a min of 1gm and all at once. I'm sensitive to drugs so was very happy that this was not one of them.

Have you tried Lysine?

 

[alice]

I have had no insomnia problems with Valtrex, but I do take meds to help with sleep, so that could be eliminating the insomnia effect. FWIW, the ME/CFS doc who prescribes my Valtrex (and has a lot of experience with it) says he's seen problems with the generics other than Mylan or Teva (sp?) brands. I know some of the problem was with effectiveness, but maybe there were problem side effects as well. Might be worth trying the Mylan or Teva if you're not taking one of them already.

Thanks SOC for the names of the good generics. I seem to get a different generic every time I get refill, and they certainly are not all the same.. Right now I have a dark, dark blue tablet (Wockhardt USA - never heard of it). I almost took it back to drugstore because I hate these artificially colored tablets, but I just can't deal with the hassles. Why would any pharmaceutical do this dark color.
Do you.just call around when you refill script to make sure you will get Mylan or Teva? That means the script has to be transferred to new pharmacy. Do they give you a hard time with this?

I've been taking Valacyclovir for a year and my virals are still high (actually higher).

 

[TheMoonIsBlue]

Hi Alice

I have called around 4 or 5 pharmacies in a day when I was looking for a certain generic.

The pharmacy is usually very nice about it. Just say you are looking for a certain generic, tell them the name of them med and the strength. They should be able to look it up in their computer quickly what they have in stock.

If they have what you want, they should be able to transfer it for you right then with your prescription #.

 

[SOC]

Thanks SOC for the names of the good generics. I seem to get a different generic every time I get refill, and they certainly are not all the same.. Right now I have a dark, dark blue tablet (Wockhardt USA - never heard of it). I almost took it back to drugstore because I hate these artificially colored tablets, but I just can't deal with the hassles. Why would any pharmaceutical do this dark color.
Do you.just call around when you refill script to make sure you will get Mylan or Teva? That means the script has to be transferred to new pharmacy. Do they give you a hard time with this?

I've been taking Valacyclovir for a year and my virals are still high (actually higher).

The best thing to do is have your doctor specify on the prescription that it has to be the brand name (Valtrex), or Mylan or Teva generic, NO OTHER SUBSTITUTIONS. As I understand it, that gives the pharmacy more leeway in ordering a brand other than the one they usually carry. That the patient wants a different brand is not good enough. We dumb patients don't know nothin' about no medical stuff.

Your antibody titres could be higher if the antiviral is taking some of the load off your immune system, so it's now functioning better and therefore can produce antibodies better. Maybe. Not something most doctors think about because they are used to working with patients with fully intact immune systems.

 

[alice]

The best thing to do is have your doctor specify on the prescription that it has to be the brand name (Valtrex), or Mylan or Teva generic, NO OTHER SUBSTITUTIONS. As I understand it, that gives the pharmacy more leeway in ordering a brand other than the one they usually carry. That the patient wants a different brand is not good enough. We dumb patients don't know nothin' about no medical stuff.

Your antibody titres could be higher if the antiviral is taking some of the load off your immune system, so it's now functioning better and therefore can produce antibodies better. Maybe. Not something most doctors think about because they are used to working with patients with fully intact immune systems.

Thanks for these suggestons on how to get the brands I want. I have been doing the Trade Name Only thing but didn't realize I could also tell doctor to list acceptable generics..

Hope my titres are higher because anitviral is doing their thing.

 

[SOC]

Good luck! I hope the antivirals do good things for you.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

Yep, alternate between insomnia and sleeping very well on them. The insomnia does not wipe me out the next day anymore though, as it did pre valtrex. Overall, vastly improved on them.