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Acyclovir (Acyclovir) - Reviews, Ratings, Comments by Patients

 
 



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Below are Acyclovir reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. Based on a total of 12 ratings/reviews, Acyclovir has an overall score of 9. The effectiveness score is 9.17 and the side effect score is 9. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. This information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as clinical evidence.
 

Acyclovir review by 31 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   HSV 2
Dosage & duration:   400mg taken 2-3x daily for the period of 2 months
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   daily vitamins
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Since this was an initial diagnosis of HSV 2 I do not know how effective it was as I have nothing to compare it to. It is supposed to keep HSV 2 from erupting on the skin's surface or if it already has, it is supposed to reduce the duration of the lesions.
Side effects:   I experienced very noticeable hair loss when washing my hair. It seemed to go away after about 2 weeks, but this could also be when I lowered my daily total dose from 1200mg to 800mg. When I again started taking 1200mg total per day, my hair loss seems to have returned.
Comments:   I was prescribed acyclovir for an initial diagnosis of HSV 2. Initially one is supposed to take it 400mg 3x daily for 10 days. I then chose to continue taking acyclovir as part of a "suppressive therapy" regimen. At this time the dosing decreased to 400mg 2x daily.

 

Acyclovir review by 43 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   herpes
Dosage & duration:   don't know (dosage frequency: daily) for the period of probably a year
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   This drug did not completely eliminate outbreaks. While it may have diminished length and extent of outbreak, still had more than expected. Decided not to take any longer and had better results taking Olive Leaf extract daily
Side effects:   none
Comments:   prescribed as a daily preventive for herpes outbreak.

 

Acyclovir review by 26 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   cold sores
Dosage & duration:   400 mg taken twice a day for the period of 1 year
Other conditions:   NA
Other drugs taken:   NA
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   My whole lip used to swell up and I would get over a dozen little pockets of fluid that would merge into one giant blister. Now, cold sores appear 1/2 as often as before - down to every other month at most. One or two little pockets of fluid usually appear without the unsightly swelling. The cold sore is dried up within 24 hrs. They became unnoticeable to everyone.
Side effects:   I had to take it with food or I would get a little upset stomach.
Comments:   I have been taking Acyclovir daily for 1 year so far and will continue as long as my doctor allows me to.

 

Acyclovir review by 41 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   shingles
Dosage & duration:   800 mg. taken 1x day for the period of 10 days
Other conditions:   blistery rash
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The benefits were that the medication lessened the time and the severity I believe of the shingles outbreak.
Side effects:   I did not notice any side effects while taking the medication.
Comments:   I was given the medication later than I should have been becuase the first doctor that I went to said that I was having an allergic reaction to something and gave me a persription for an anti-itch cream. I probably would have gotten better quicker if I had recieved the right medication sooner.

 

Acyclovir review by 46 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   hsv1
Dosage & duration:   2000 to 4000 mg per day during outbreak taken frequently for the period of ongoing
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Immediately ameliorated symptoms and extremely efficacious when used prophylactically
Side effects:   Occasional mild gastrointestinal irritation when using a high dose (4000 mg)
Comments:   I take 800 mg of acyclovir at the first sign of tingling along lips or tip of nose. I've found this prophylactic approach to be most efficacious if I dose at 800 mg for a day or two subsequently. In doing so, I've reduced hsv1 outbreaks from one a month to one a year. If I do get an outbreak, I dose 4000 mg per day (800 mg apprx every 2-3 waking hours) for four days then taper to 800 to 1600 mg per day for two to three more days with excellent results. If I begin dose after an outbreak has initiated, it is immediately arrested from worsening though it still will go through it's viral cycle remaining at a very small scale as long as I continue treatment as described above.

 

Acyclovir review by 47 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   shingles breakout
Dosage & duration:   400mg taken twice a day for the period of 1 year
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I used to break out with shingles and started taking the drug and the outbreaks stopped. After a year, I stopped taking it and whenever I feel like Im getting an outbreak, I take the drug for a few days and it goes away. I barely get outbreaks anymore.
Side effects:   To my knowledge I had no side effects with the drug.
Comments:   I just took the drug for a year twice a day. Then stopped and just take it when I feel I am going to have an outbreak and after a few days, the symptoms dissapear and I dont get an outbreak. This is great since the shingles outbreak were very painful and lasted a long time to go away.

 

Acyclovir review by 35 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   shingles
Dosage & duration:   800 mg taken 5 times in 24 hours for the period of 10 days
Other conditions:   also had mastitis at this time (was breastfeeding)
Other drugs taken:   Was also taking amoxocillin for mastitis
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The acyclovir was highly effective even though taken late - ie a week or more after I first got shingles. It was still spreading 7-10 days later but once I starteed taking this medicine it did clear up. I was also relieved that I had very little lasting nerve pain afterwards
Side effects:   None except for exhaustino from disrupted sleep pattern due to needing to take the medication every 4-5 hours
Comments:   as above - I was prescribed this medication for severe shingles, which went from my calf up to my lower back on my left side. They covered the left lower side of my body extensively. Treatment occured late due to many doctor's reluctance to treat me whilst i was breastfeeding. However treatment became essential and I was prescribed them about 7 or maybe more days after first going to the doctor. This treatment did work with no bad effects on myself or my baby through the breastmilk

 

Acyclovir review by 45 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   recurrent colds
Dosage & duration:   400 mg taken 1 x day for the period of 3 monthg
Other conditions:   GI distress
Other drugs taken:   Rimantidine
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   drug was prescribed for off label use to treat recurrent infections by physician whose protocol addresses high viral load in limbic system (chicken pox) and GI tract (MMR vaccine remnants). It seemed to work - could be that other environmental variables were removed simultaneously but I can't think of variables that were exactly concurrent with taking of this drug. It stopped 6 week recurrent symptoms of cold/flu-like exhaustion.
Side effects:   none that I was aware of
Comments:   see above - off label use for recurrent cold infections.

 

Acyclovir review by 25 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Cold Sores/Fever Blisters
Dosage & duration:   400mg 4 times daily at onset of cold sor taken at least 10 times a year for the period of took about 3per day for 2-3 days at time
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   It is very effective, especially if you take it early enough. But even if you wait till the cold sore is larger, it still stops the growth of cold sores completely, and helps to heal pretty quick. id say within 2-3 days. Its so worth it if you are like me, and get cold sores ALLLLL the time. (at LEAST 10 times a year, no joke) I have to have the medicine with me at all times. The sad thing is, I'm only allowed 4 refills a year, so I have to lower my dosage, but, it still works.
Side effects:   spotting/cramping between periods, which didnt happen till I started taking this medicine.
Comments:   I take 3 per day for about 2- 3 days on the onset of a cold sore. I recommend you use as directed, also be sure to drink PLENTY of liquids (no alcohol) while taking the medicine. Also, be sure you arent on any other medications that effect your kidneys, liver, or stomach. Also, only take it on the ONSET of a cold sore. Not every day for the rest of your life.

 

Acyclovir review by 42 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   cold sore below lip
Dosage & duration:   1600 mg a day (two 800 mg tablets) taken 400 mg 4x a day for the period of 1 month
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   A very bad and large cold sore started to slowly go away immediately when started. I started it because my cold sore wasn't going away and getting way worse. So I was prescribed 200mg 4x a day, for 10 days. Which it immediately kept the cold sore from getting worse. I was give another same perscription and kept taking it, then my doctor wouldn't give me any more, even though it was showing improvement. So, I found that I could order it online, and it directed me to take 1600 mg during outbreaks, so I did. And it started healing, and now after almost a month it's almost gone. This cold sore didn't break the surface, but was getting larger so this medication was a life saver.
Side effects:   Slight headache, in the scalp area and forhead, but very slight.
Comments:   Instead of taking the whole 800 mg tablet, I took 400mg (half) then the other half about an hour or so later. So, 1600 mg a day was very effective, and work miraculously. I believe this will keep me from getting any cold sores, I'll drop down to 800mg daily once the cold sore is totally gone.

 

Acyclovir review by 65 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   herpes
Dosage & duration:   400 mg. 2x/day taken twice a day for the period of 10 years
Other conditions:   hypo-thyroid
Other drugs taken:   levothyroxin
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   During the ten years I've been taking acyclovir, I have experienced zero outbreaks, compared to almost continuous outbreaks prior to taking this drug. I occasionally have the achiness that precedes an outbreak, and have on two or three occasions taken an extra dose per day when I experience that symptom.
Side effects:   I have experienced no noticeable side effects during this ten year period on acyclovir.
Comments:   I have no special treatment details except taking recommended dose on time and not skipping doses.

 

Acyclovir review by 31 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Cold sore
Dosage & duration:   5% (dosage frequency: 6 times a day) for the period of 3 days
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   Abreva, Campho-phenique
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I was 6 days into having my very first cold sore which had since turned into TWO on the left and right sides of my bottom lip and I had already tried abreva and campho-phenique with absolutely no benefit. I thought I was going to suffer for weeks. It was so painful and kept scabbing then the scabs would fall off after drinking or taking a shower. Then I saw my dr who prescribed Zovirax ointment. I swear, the NEXT day, both cold sores were half the size and no longer "weeping". It is just about healed. This stuff works and now that I know I get cold sores, I will never be without Zovirax. Ever.
Side effects:   None
Comments:   Blotted lips to dry and allow the ointment stay on lips. Wash hands well before and after application. Apply a thin layer to lips 6 x per day and especially right before bed.
 


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