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looking for a doctor who will prescribe anti virals or herbal equivalent for EBV / Shingles virus in the U.K??
Many thanks.
Many thanks.
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Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of, and finding treatments for, complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.
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looking for a doctor who will prescribe anti virals or herbal equivalent for EBV / Shingles virus in the U.K??
Many thanks.
Dear Lucy
I assume from what you say that you do not have a copy of the new (2016) edition of the MEA purple booklet
So I enclose the section on antiviral drug treatment below, which you should find helpful
There is also a section on immunomodulatory treatments (including immunoglobulin) if you need an up to date summary of clinical trial information relating to immune system treatments
I also assume you are not aware that the NICE guideline on ME/CFS does NOT recommend the use of antiviral or immunomodulatory treatments - so this is not a form of treatment that is likely to be prescribed by an NHS doctor, unless there are very good reasons for doing so
There aren't many doctors here in the UK (certainly in the NHS) who prescribe herbal treatments - so I think you are going to have to approach a reputable herbal medicine practitioner if you want to go down this route. I would add that the evidence for using herbal remedies in this situation is (in my opinion) not convincing
7.4.6 Antiviral drugs
Although viral infections commonly trigger ME/CFS, there is very little scientific evidence to indicate that a persisting viral infection is involved in perpetuating ME/CFS. The first antiviral drug to be assessed in a clinical trial was acyclovir (Straus et al 1988a). No benefits were found. Intravenous ganciclovir was found to be of benefit in a subset of patients with abnormal aberrant T-waves in a small pilot trial (Lerner et al 1997).
Valganciclovir (VGCV), which is active against human herpes virus type-6 infection, is currently being assessed in the USA following a report that it could be of benefit in ME/CFS patients with evidence of persisting EBV infection (Kogelnik et al 2006).
A more recent study investigated whether antibody titres against HHV-6 and EBV were associated with a clinical response to valganciclovir in a subset of ME/CFS patients (Watt et al 2012). Antibody titres were considered high if HHV-6 IgG was > 1:320, EBV capsid antigen IgG was > 1:640 and EBV early antigen IgG was > 1:160. Treatment with valganciclovir, independent of baseline antibody titres, was associated with self-rated improvement in physical and cognitive functioning in those who had positive HHV-6 and/or EBV serologies.
Montoya et al (2013) randomised (2:1) 30 ME/CFS patients with elevated IgG antibody titres against HHV-6 and EBV to receive valganciclovir or placebo for six months in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Statistically significant differences between groups were observed in mental fatigue sub-scores and cognitive function. The VGCV patients experienced improvements within the first three months and maintained that benefit for the remaining nine months. In the VGCV arm, monocyte counts decreased, neutrophil counts increased and cytokines were more likely to evolve towards a Th-1 profile.
NICE does not recommend the use of antiviral treatment in ME/CFS (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 2007b), and this has had a very negative impact on any interest here in the UK regarding a clinical trial that would aim to replicate these very interesting findings. The MEA has met with a representative from the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Valcyte (one of the brand names of VGCV) to discuss the possibility of a UK clinical trial.
Dr Charles Shepherd
Hon Medical Adviser, MEA
We can't recommend individual treatments but if you read through sections of the forum that look interesting to you, you will get lots of information and ideas. Just go to the forums page and scroll down to see all the sections of the forum. Or, if you read the forum by clicking on New Posts, you will see everything that is being discussed currently.Is there any treatment you would recommend? I am suffering from brain fog/mushy brain/head pressure (cognitive problems) and inflamed throat/swollen glands everyday as my main symptoms. I am willing to try any option to defeat the brain fog (whatever the price)
Thanks for your reply. Apologies as I literally know nothing about treatment - I don't know anybody else with the condition and have limited medical help where I am because my GP has told me basically there's nothing she can do to help me.
Is there any treatment you would recommend? I am suffering from brain fog/mushy brain/head pressure (cognitive problems) and inflamed throat/swollen glands everyday as my main symptoms. I am willing to try any option to defeat the brain fog (whatever the price)
@TedBakerBoy
Thanks, Ted
How did it go with your pred in the end? Were you able to wean off them with no problems?
Why do you think I'm 20/21???Hi , I'm still on the pred I feel reborn and like a new man before cfs. I had all your symptom's I take 5mg Monday Wednesday Friday best decision I've ever made. Are you only 20/21???
Why do you think I'm 20/21???
No worries. Not like I haven't already mixed you up with someone else, too!sorry i'm getting mixed up, i was assuming you were lucy1996, my apologies