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Valtrex: what should I expect?

alice111

Senior Member
Messages
397
Location
Canada
Hi guys, I'm just starting valtrex (started today at a 1/4 of a tab) I'm wondering those who have tried antivirals what your initial experience was?

Is it a worse to get better type start? Are there specific symptoms I should expect? I know we are all very different, but I just wanted to get an idea of what I'm in for.

If there is a post already that covers this let me know!
Thanks. :)
 
Messages
25
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.
 

geraldt52

Senior Member
Messages
602
I initially got a boost from it, which lasted maybe 9 months, and then it seemed to have no further benefit.

After using it for some time, I did develop side effects: profound fatigue, and joint/muscle pain...it sneaks up on you, and it is significant, so be aware of the potential.
 

alice111

Senior Member
Messages
397
Location
Canada
@Thinktank ohhh yessss I did! Active ebv, cmv, and hhv6 so I am definitely I candidate I think! Wether or not this works is another story... but I've heard of a lot of people who have gone up quite a few levels with it, so I'm cautiously optimistic hah
Ps just a suggestion, I have no idea what your tolerance for things is! But my prescribed dose was the same as yours, I am not starting with that though just because I have found the "low and slow" approach to be much more manageable, But that's just my experience :)
 
Messages
38
I started on valtrex 500mg twice daily (I actually split a 1g pill in half) a little over 2 months ago. I noticed some good changes after about 4 weeks ... Eye issues went away and headaches went away completely but dizziness and fatigue were still there ... I was also put on valcyte 450mg 2x a day which I noticed a much better response to (however it's hard to tell because it also could be the valtrex would have worked by itself) I'm still not completely cured by any means.

From what I've read it takes from 3 to 6 months to see a change and even up to a year. I'm maybe 30% better very quickly. I'm also taking quite a handful of various herbs and such and I am back at the gym again 5x a day. Sleeping much better too. I should point out I was never bed ridden but was doing pretty bad. I had active cmv, eB and h6 as well as walking pneumonia.

I've been working with dr Susan Levine in NYC. I was going to post my 5 year journey with this when I have time. For me one of the best things I did even before I went to the dr Was to start taking lots of pro biotics. I alternate between brands and started at 100bil a day or more (try at your own risk) ... Over the past year I've gone from a level 6 to 8 or 9 depending on the day. The antivirals seem to have excelerated this drastically but again in my case I was already on a slow path to recovery.
 
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Messages
38
Yes but antivirals do not cause herxing ... There is no die off like antibiotics as they just stop replication. They are however chemicals and make you feel bad for a while. Start slow. I should also mention that I also take truvada for HIV prevention. It is easy to get in NYC and is 2 antivirals. Very common here and covered by insurance. I was taking this for 10 months before and also could be related to my recovery.
 
Messages
38
I am treated by dr Susan Levine in NYC who is a cfs specialist ... I had an active HHV6, EBV (>600), EBV early antigen (28.2), EBV Nuclear antigen (404), active CMV ... To be honest I could not tell how she determined the cmv from this test I'm looking at. I also tested positive for pneumonia at the time which we treated
 
Messages
38
Why do you need to take that for HIV prevention? Do you think you have a risk of getting HIV?

Let's just I'm in a high risk group. I also travel a lot with work and am in places like South Africa and Asia where HIV is rampant. I am also single and live in NYC and have a healthy sex life. While I use condoms, accidents happen and it just makes sense to me.
 

sorin

Senior Member
Messages
345
I am treated by dr Susan Levine in NYC who is a cfs specialist ... I had an active HHV6, EBV (>600), EBV early antigen (28.2), EBV Nuclear antigen (404), active CMV ... To be honest I could not tell how she determined the cmv from this test I'm looking at. I also tested positive for pneumonia at the time which we treated
for CMV did you do IgG and IgM? PCR also?
 

sorin

Senior Member
Messages
345
Would anyone else like to share their experience? Isn't valtrex one of the most used medications to treat ME/CFS?
I already wrote something about this in the past here
http://forums.phoenixrising.me/inde...-see-dr-de-meirleir.26132/page-28#post-771018
However, after 4 months of taking 1.5 g Valtrex daily I can not say that I notice significant improvements, the fatigue is still there (sometimes very strong fatigue), the neurological problems still there.
Regarding Valtrex and CFS, I have read that dr. Martin Lerner used this mdication for about 1.5 years- 2 years with his patients and giving daily dosage of about 3-4 grams per day which is almost double in comparison with my dosage.
 
Messages
11
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.