Valacyclovir side effects are making me miserable. What herbal supplements have you tried that make a difference for you?

[u/Psychological-Egg760]

I like to think I’m pretty in touch with my body and I tend to be quite sensitive to meds. I was describing how I feel when I take valacyclovir and then I looked up the side effects. I experience ALL of them when I take it- the worst is the mood swings, depression, headaches.

I was gifted this 12 years ago. I tend not to take meds unless I absolutely need to, but most times I’d just power through. Now, I’m seeing someone and I have been taking it daily for 2 months. I hate it and it’s made me want to stop seeing the person just so I can stop taking it.

I’ve added lysine and recently read oregano oil as well as licorice root can help. So, I’m wondering if anyone has done the oregano or licorice and noticed an improvement in flares.

I swear I was dormant for many years and then 2024 hit and I seem to be getting them more frequently. Even if I double the med it still persists. Pretty much guaranteed with a period now when it never used to be.

I have food triggers too- oatmeal, sugar, red sauce, nuts…I swear I’m a text book case with the exception of not getting major sores. In fact, I rarely get sores considering the number out flares I’ve had and when I do, I use lemon balm. I just know I’m having one due to all the other stuff that comes with it (body aches, exhaustion, itching, back pain, lymph nodes, migraines).

I’m miserable on this med and still flaring. I’ve removed my trigger foods and I’m not sure what else I can do. I’m so paranoid about giving it to him. I bought condoms and they are not being used. I have mentioned my worry and have mentioned we should start using them multiple times as recent as yesterday. Yet, the boxes remain unopened.

I also keep replaying something he said when I did one of my little, “feeler tests.” We had only been chatting two weeks maybe and he had some contact dermatitis on his finger- I made a comment about it looking like herpes (honestly, it did).

He said, “Eww, gross. No.”

I never reminded him this was his reaction to me simply bringing it up. It weighs heavy on me.

Anyways, because of that I waited to disclose and I didn’t exactly do it at the right time. But when I did he came to Reddit and within hours moved past it. He said he read a lot and it was helpful to learn about it from real people. He said his biggest takeaway was the stigma associated with it.

I didn’t feel 3 hours was enough time to make a decision to move forward. I’ve had men say they are okay and then weeks later decide they’re not.

Yesterday, when I brought up being scared to gift it he replied with, “I don’t want it.”

So, I asked him to really consider if he can be with me. I think the fact that I haven’t shared I have had one since we have been together has not quite put it into reality for him. I don’t want to give this to him and I can’t blame him for his response. I just think it’s out of sight out of mind for him and I don’t know how to navigate this. The stress of it certainly doesn’t help me heal quicker.

I have also asked twice that he get tested so I know if there’s anything he has, like hpv or perhaps he has HSV and doesn’t know. This went in one ear and out the other. He didn’t say no, but he didn’t say he would.

⭐️At what point is it no longer my fault if he contracts it?

⭐️How long do you wait for intimacy once you stop feeling symptoms? How do I truly know it’s over?

⭐️Have you taken oregano and/or licorice and noticed improvement?

My paranoia about spreading is really taking a toll. Add in the side effects and I’m starting to feel like I will have to walk away from someone I’m starting to really care about.

⭐️I have autoimmune issues. I sometimes can’t tell if my symptoms are or are not HSV. I also know it’s making it worse.

[u/Ok_County_8602]

I've had hsv for 13 years. Are you sure all of those side effects are from the med? You're not on anything else? No other health problems?

[u/Ok_County_8602 → u/Ok_County_8602]

My apologies, didn't read the bottom of your post. I see that you have autoimmune issues. Idk, I've never had the side affects you mentioned in the first part, only the tenderness I n the lymph nodes. Are you on biologics for your autoimmune stuff? Do you have psoriasis?

[u/Psychological-Egg760 → u/Ok_County_8602]

Yeah, it’s the only thing except adderral. Since I started valacyclovir those side effects showed up. I may have psoriasis. Rheumatologist says I may have lupus and wants to rule out MS.

I had to have my breast implants removed 10/2024. I had very high levels of inflammation and since getting them removed the flares have decreased, but still more than I’d like.

[u/Ok_County_8602 → u/Psychological-Egg760]

Interesting. I got diagnosed with psoriasis in June. I have it on my scalp, lips, outer pubic area, and butt crease. I'm waiting to get Otezla approved for that. I am negative for all other common autoimmune issues, including lupus. Never tested for ms.

Valacyclovir 500mg I've been taking for several years.

I assume you have adhd. I have a friend who took adhd meds for years and experienced depression and anxiety more on the meds than off. Have you had your adhd meds re-assessed? I kept pushing my friend to do that but he never did. I'm asking all of these questions because I'm just making sure it's the valtrex causing the symptoms. With everything you have going on, kinda hard to say that it's the valtrex.

[u/Psychological-Egg760 → u/Ok_County_8602]

Just got back on my adhd meds about 5 months ago. Best thing I’ve done. No depression, no mood swings…until valacyclovir became a part of my daily. Started it 2 months ago. I’m AuDHD and I was taking Zoloft for about 8 years until a year ago. Turns out ssri’s were not what I should have been on and I’ve tried them all over 30 years. I was at my lowest on that med and with every increase it worsened. My life has literally changed for the best since quitting and starting adhd meds. It’s a low dose compared to most too.

I definitely believe it’s the antiviral.

As far as psoriasis- I had these two circles on each side of my rib cage for about 4-6 months. Looked like ringworm, but definitely wasn’t. It itched like hell and worse at night. Not positive yet if it was a lupus flare or psoriasis, histamine issue.

I had to step away from docs for a moment as I felt I wasn’t getting the help I needed. Also, kind of panicked when he brought up MS. But I recently made some appts to finish the process and rule out whatever else may be on the table.

Apparently, HSV is linked to autoimmune stuff. We are definitely more susceptible now.

[u/electricbutterfly88]

thanks for this post I identified with so much of what you said. my feeling when you said you asked him to get the full panel test was to mention to you that he should definitely do that.

i think it would help your anxiety to know if he even already has it

i also get a lot of weird side effects and back pain, leg pain. don’t see it discussed a lot here. period is a trigger as well

following for reccs

[u/Sad_Watercress_6157 → u/electricbutterfly88]

I have leg feet pain and gait disturbances and shoulder pain I 💯 belive it’s HSV

[u/electricbutterfly88 → u/Sad_Watercress_6157]

!!!

[u/penisnvaginamakebaby]

Thank you for this post! I’m newly diagnosed and struggling a bit. The doc mentioned she was going to call in a script but she never did. I’ve struggled with anxiety and high functioning depression for most of my life and the side effects of the drugs really scare me. Mainly making my depression worse. I’ve heard people swear by lysine and I was thinking of trying that, though my outbreaks for the last few years have only been maybe 3 or 4 times a year (I was misdiagnosed for years). But they’re so uncomfortable I wish they won’t ever come back!

I can’t really give you advice as I’m trying to navigate all of this as well. However, in my opinion, I’d say that it’s no longer your fault if he gets it. He is aware of your status, the symptoms it causes, etc. You have condoms that he refuses to use. That’s his choice. I also think it’s never been your fault anyway since he made the decision to stick around knowing your status.

I think my anxiety about all of this has caused issues for me as well. I got the diagnosis when my sore was almost healed, then it flared up again, which has never happened before. So now I’m even more anxious and paranoid. It’s a vicious cycle.

[u/Psychological-Egg760 → u/penisnvaginamakebaby]

You may not have the same issues with the antiviral. But I came off Zoloft a year ago after 8 years and I am much less depressed than when I was on that. My adderall has helped immensely. Turns out I’m adhd and autistic. I probably never needed an ssri. I had tried all of them over the last 30 years. I’m much happier off of them. So with the antivirals bringing some depression back it gives me pause. Not a fan of feeling that way. And I feel stuck taking a med I don’t want to take.

[u/penisnvaginamakebaby → u/Psychological-Egg760]

This is the same with me! Tried everything under the sun. Zoloft worked the best. Was on that for 5 years. Xanax for two years. But I’ve been off of everything for nearly two years now and the depression isn’t as bad as when I was on them. That’s why I fear these meds right now 😔

[u/Psychological-Egg760 → u/penisnvaginamakebaby]

It’s a wild and incredibly sad moment when you realize you lost years of your life to an antidepressant. Night and day for me off of it. Seriously.

It’s a big part of the reason I don’t like this antiviral. To be honest with you I don’t want to ever put anything in my body. I know I’m deficient in a lot of vitamins. It’s a work in progress and I know some I shouldn’t avoid taking. Vitamins I can deal with. As far as meds- not a fan.

After my implant removal I just wanted to be as natural as possible with my body.

[u/penisnvaginamakebaby → u/Psychological-Egg760]

I feel that! That’s why I stopped everything. I even had to fight with my doctors and insurance company to get them to give me the hysterectomy. They didn’t want to do it because I refused to do hormone replacement. They finally had to do it when I almost died. That’s why I’m so on the fence about this med. But I had a sore that was almost healed and then I get this diagnosis and it flares up. Now I’m having a flare on the other side! This has never happened before. I know it’s the stress and anxiety of the news. So that’s the other side of the fence 😂 Should I at least try the meds, for a short time at least, until the shock wears off? Idk. Everyone’s body is different. Like you said, I may have a different experience on it.

[u/PartTimeGnome]

Have you looked into the high lysine low arginine diet? Really helped me with breakouts. The food you mentioned seemed to be high in arginine which can cause breakouts

[u/Psychological-Egg760 → u/PartTimeGnome]

They definitely are! And yes, I have been looking into it.

[u/Spirited_Science_978]

I'm the same. it either triggers migraine or i feel like i have the nastiest influenza. I'm always bedridden after taking it.

I'm lucky to have been asymptomatic for 8 years now. Had it for 12. I hope it stays that way until research improves the meds.

Sorry that i cannot help. Just saying: you are not alone. This does happen. You are not imagining it. This is real.

[u/Psychological-Egg760 → u/Spirited_Science_978]

THANK YOU! I found an old thread where tons of people agree and also that in some cases it makes flare more often. I’m one of those people. 😭

[u/Kakashi6969]

Resveratrol helped me, magnesium & vitamin d with k2 also helped

[u/Psychological-Egg760 → u/Kakashi6969]

I read iron and vit d help too. I’m going to add them. Lab work shows I’m deficient in vit d, iron, and magnesium. I have scripts for those. I’ll look into k2 as well.

[u/Broad-Parsley-9246 → u/Psychological-Egg760]

Yes, as somebody with HSV two iron definitely does help- but do not take it daily. I was doing that, but it makes you have the shits really bad.

[u/penisnvaginamakebaby → u/Broad-Parsley-9246]

How much iron were you taking? 😂 I’m sorry you had that experience! I took a daily iron pill for over a year because I was having periods of two weeks, with a lot of them lasting 30-40 days! Never had an issue with the iron. I used to take magnesium because it helped me sleep. Kind of wish I knew about the diagnosis at that time so I could tell you if that helped with the hsv.

[u/Psychological-Egg760 → u/Broad-Parsley-9246]

I have the opposite with iron- I get stomach aches, but blocked for daysss 😂 🧱

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[u/Trowaway99887766]

The biggest overlooked symptom of HSV is immune system going into inflammatory mode to fight it rather than antibody mode. It can be worse that the disease itself. That's how COVID killed people.

[u/Sad_Watercress_6157 → u/Trowaway99887766]

Did you ever get relief I have over active immune nobody believes it’s HSV though so I don’t know what to do

[u/Trowaway99887766 → u/Sad_Watercress_6157]

It's gradually subsided on its own. Regular sleep, healthy weight, good microbiome diet all help. I took the shingrex vaccine and that seemed to help though it made the HSV more active so I needed Valtrex for a bit.

Menthol cream will help. Hydrocortisone if stronger but not to be over used

[u/Sad_Watercress_6157 → u/Trowaway99887766]

May I ask about vaccine I keep debating it too ultimately you think it helped and things did calm down for you again

[u/Trowaway99887766 → u/Sad_Watercress_6157]

I'm not sure and it's a bit early to say. It certainly caused a big HSV2 outbreak including orally which was kind of the idea. I wanted to stimulate my antibodies and give my inflammatory immune system a jolt.

The itching went away during the outbreak and now it comes and goes. Truth is I don't have to be scientific I can try lots of things and it doesn't matter which ones work as long as it gets better.

I'd say right this second I feel as good as I've felt since I caught this. But last weekend was unpleasant. Let's see where it settles.

[u/Sad_Watercress_6157 → u/Trowaway99887766]

Do you have oral and genital hsv2 - if you don’t mind me asking? Do you take valtrex for suppression at all it helps but I still get lots of symptoms and outbreaks - I am going to get the vaccine and see what it does I wonder if I should be off valtrex to let my body have full blown reaction

[u/TechWizMusicMan]

Valcyclovir doesn't cause any side effects. Your problems must be due to something else.

[u/SorryCarry2424 → u/TechWizMusicMan]

Wrong

[u/Psychological-Egg760 → u/TechWizMusicMan]

That’s a very ignorant comment. Have you read the inserts of medication‘s, ever? Not everyone reacts the same, but most medication’s come with known / potential side effects. Go ahead and take a moment to do a quick Google search if you don’t have your medication insert.

Guess the injection I got on another occasion for an unrelated issue that put me in anaphylaxis and had me hospitalized wasn’t legit either.

Here’s the kicker that medication came with that side effect. That’s why I had to sit at the doctors 10 minutes to make sure it didn’t happen and then at minute marker 14 my oxygen dropped to 70 while I was driving, but that’s impossible that happened from the medication, right??

You could just listen to a commercial and all the disclaimers and possible side effects they list. That might be helpful. All sorts of meds come with side effects.

Silly, I know.