Valacyclovir for Herpes Simplex, Suppression User Reviews (Page 5)

• SSano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 28, 2019

"I'm in my 60s, started taking valacyclovir for Herpes suppression 2 years ago. My HSV2 is particularly tenacious. I wanted to give my body a break from this medicine, but when I stopped taking my 500mg a day, I had an outbreak within 5 days. Sometimes I feel the prodrome, and I have to take 1000mg twice a day. For a day or so. My outbreaks are on my legs. It works well but I have to take a lot of medicine and I worry that it’s bad for my liver and kidneys so I drink lots of water with it. I hope my body doesn’t develop a tolerance to it and stop working."

• works...
• December 18, 2016

"Male with genital herpes. One valacyclovir hcl 500mg tablet per day. Never tested one way or another but the doctors indicated the patient is the better judge of the better treatment. The option exists to only take the medicine at the time of an outbreak but the suppression works well without obvious side effects. Best guess 10 years worth of suppression treatment without obvious side effects. And for those rating the drug with a low score please do research on the herpes and valacyclaovir/ Valtrex / Acyclovir. Acyclovir is the least cost 2-3 X a day option but Valtrex (or the generic Valtrex) is a once a day option at a higher cost. Herpes is managed, not cured. Occasionally I forget to take the medicine without issue."

• Zande...
• January 7, 2016

Valtrex (valacyclovir) "I found out I had herpes simplex type 2 last year and never had a breakout until I got pregnant, my first breakout started about a week ago and my ob just prescribed me valtrex yesterday! I've started my dose and I'm praying it works because this is horrible !!"

• Badlu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 21, 2014

"I was diagnosed with Herpes Simplex Virus back in November 2013. My first OB happened a few days ago. Only one blister around my genital area. My Dr prescribed Valacyclovir 500mg 1 tablet twice daily for 5 days and acyclovir 7x daily for 7 days. As soon as I started taking the medicines the blister decreased in size and there is little to no pain. I'm going to see my dr again this Friday so he can prescribe a suppression regime. Life saver medicine with the possibility of suppressing the spread of the virus. Little to no side effects, mostly dizzy and tired. Worth it."

• HSV
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2016

"I have had genital herpes for the past 6 years. I caught it from my partner so I didn't feel the need to use suppression and my outbreaks did get less severe and less frequent over time. I recently got divorced so I got on Valacyclovir as a daily suppressant since it can reduce my risk of passing it to s new partner (using condoms and paying attention to symptoms) to about 1%. I stayed talking it about 2 days into an outbreak and noticed a reduction in symptoms in a matter of hours. The only side effects I've had are a bit of fatigue and dizziness (I also take other meds that cause that so it may be cumulative) and the occasional headache if I don't stay hydrated enough. Totally worth it to feel more normal though."

• Jimmy...
• February 2, 2016

Valtrex (valacyclovir) "So woke up sunday morning with a little blister. Instantly took 4x500mg Valtrex. Unlike the rest of the users on the previous reviews, mine did get bigger and did multiply. It is now Tuesday. It didn't get as big as it would get without the valtrex but still up there and not scabbing yet. So its either I'm not lucky like the rest of the users or they are making it up."

• Jaded
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 29, 2019

"Valtrax is awesome however the generic is almost like taking a placebo, I have to take a whole bunch of it for it to do anything. I really don’t think our country cares if a generic is as good as the real deal as long as it saves the insurance money. I’ve also had reactions like stomach pain rashes some weird blood count issues and dizziness. This drug is even if I take 1g has so many fillers in it it barely does its job I’ve notice that it’s price is coming down that should say something. I also have herpes 5 and it seems like the real valtrax helps with some of the discomfort, but idk the antivirals for that cost about 3500$ and quickly ruin your liver function. Anyways this drug should have to stand up to the standers of the brand there shouldn’t be a difference!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 4, 2018

"This has been a wonder drug for me! I acquired this affliction as a teenager, I am now 50. I would get a swollen lymph node in my neck, so I go to my ear, nose and throat doc and he tells me to not be alarmed but I have the virus stored in my neck. He prescribed valtrex around 15 years ago. I take 500mg at bedtime to avoid feeling the side effects. Thank you to the investors of this drug! You have saved me from years of pain!!"

• haley...
• April 9, 2015

"Well yesterday I found out I had genital herpes from oral sex. My boyfriend had a cold sore that I honestly thought didn't matter and I thought it was healed. I noticed symptoms such as itching and burning but I shook it off and thought it was a yeast infection. then the next day swelling happened and I was so sore I couldn't sleep. My gyno perscribed me with Valacyclovir and so far it has been working a little bit, it still burns to go to the bathroom but it's only the first day. It's providing relief though. none of you should feel alone because you definitely aren't. Just remember to stay positive and keep your head up. It sucks but you can do it! Also remember that one little mistake can hurt you real bad."

• Phrr
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 19, 2022

Valtrex (valacyclovir) "First time I used after 2 days of HSV 3rd outbreak, I got swollen lymph nodes at my groin. Then outbreaks become very frequent that comes few days after finishing the course of treatment, e.g., 1gm/day for 5 days. I tried during prodrome, which made prodromal stage even worse and as long as a week, as I got multiple-location sharp pain at my groin area, this pain lasts for days and impacted my lifestyle. When tried as suppressive therapy, I got a very painful urination for subsequent months. After finishing 6 months of suppressive therapy outbreak comes in 2 days as painful as the primary, extended suppressive therapy for another 6 months and outbreak comes after 3 months. This drug is completely useless for me and local lidocaine is more effective for treatment along with rest."

• Ashton
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2021

Valtrex (valacyclovir) "It does work without a doubt but made me pretty sick in the process. It made me extremely dizzy and nauseous and I just had to quit taking it. I felt so out of it for days and unbalanced. Yes I would use it again if the sores popped back up but wouldn’t take the whole course"

• Born...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 22, 2017

"I've suffered with severe cold sores all my life. When I was a kid they robbed me of all confidence and severely influenced the choices I made in life. In my mid-20s I realized that if I avoided UV and certain foods (tomatoes, citrus, chocolate) I could reduce the number of outbreaks, but I still suffered horribly on a monthly basis. Then I had to have eye surgery, and I was prescribed Valtrex to get rid of a cold sore I had at the time. The surgery didn't work out, but I would have gone through the whole painful process again just to find out about this drug. For the past 4 years, if I experience any tingle I take around 10 pills over 36 hours and the outbreak halts in its tracks. Almost no visible problems. Absolutely life changing!"

• jeman...
• April 4, 2012

"I'd gotten my first cold sore in 2004 & my lip had gotten really huge. I would get maybe one cold sore each year after that and then at least 3 a year for the last 3 years. Between the months of May 2011 to Jan 2012 I gotten about 5-6 cold sores total and I'd noticed that they were all due to an onset of stress. I spoke with my doctor in Feb 2012 & she prescribed Valtrex 500mg to be taken once a day, daily but I gotten the generic Valacyclovir for insurance purposes. I don't take it daily for suppression as prescribed but I do take it immediately when my lip feels tingly and again the following day and I won't get any sore(s). I've had a few stressful situations since getting the prescription but no outbreaks. So far, so good!"

• Tickt...
• October 11, 2015

"Have been taking generic Valtrex manufactured by Mylan 500 mg tablets. Started out 2 a day for 10 days. Have had 3 refills for OB and it,has done absolutely nothing except make the flare up worse. Got off them completely and actually began to see healing. Have been doing some reading regarding this manufactured and many responses indicate the same thing. Understand the generic manufactured by Teva is the closest to the original Valtrex. I will remember that next time. "

• Leigh
• February 16, 2017

"I've suffered from cold sore since I was a baby. I remember having 3 at once in middle school and a huge one my senior year. In my 20s, I started to get them 5 or more times per year. The pain was unbearable sometimes as they flared up and weeped. I finally asked my doctor if there was something I could do. She gave me a 90 day script for valtrex and it's been amazing. If I catch it in the tingle stage, it barely forms. One time, I've missed the tingle and a blister has started to form.. it was puffy the next day and then It was flat and not puffy the NEXT DAY! Never broke and weeped, but just gradually went away. I recommend this a million times over."

• The...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 28, 2016

"This generic form does not work at all, may be better not not using this drug. Brand name valtrex will clear up the herpes virus infection used for genital herpes suppression but the generic does not. I used brand name before and had up increase dosage one year, I can not help but to think the manufacture has cut some corners in effort to lower the price for patients. Still insurance will not cover the price for a brand name and it's very expensive. I wish the generic work as good as brand name for suppression therapy."

• skale...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2016

"Had to stop taking this medicine after 2 pills. Severe side effects included abdominal boating, gas, nausea, and pain. Also had increase tinnitus and head ache. Almost went to "Urgent Care," but symptoms decreased very slowly after 2 days."

• Anonymous
• July 14, 2016

"Dark chocolate triggers it horribly as well as peanut butter. Taking one 500mg a day will supress it and prevent outbreaks but if you get a bad case due to a low immune system or something you ate with high Argine B then I've had to take 2 pills at 500 mg 3 tx a day to get this to work fast and alleviate painful systems within a week. I'm wondering if I would have to take less with more mg or with a brand rather than a generic"

• pmbou...
• August 24, 2019

"I seem to have been born with the virus. Cold sores all my life. Never sought help until, instead of just one sore and it's gone, I had multiple outbreaks which would fade and come right back in the same area. It could go on for 6 weeks! Also spread to sinus cavity, and then genitals. Absolute hell. Started at 500mg 2x, and for a few years it was divine! Now they are slight eruptions, enough to hurt. But increasing dosage makes me tremble."

• Cutie
• June 1, 2017

"Been taking Daily 4+ years living normal life Had one bad outbreak fall 2012 and then little sensations/paranoid so requested to go on daily suppression and for my boyfriend - he doesn't have and check with my doctor every year Totally safe to continue"

• Noout...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 18, 2017

"I've been taking the 500mg for 4 years straight now with out one outbreak. So grateful to have found something that works before this I would get outbreaks once every 2 months it was the worst. I would recommend this daily to anyone who has this problem."

• Adelt...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2016

"So here I am, an old gal in her 50s, married and monogamous for many years, and suddenly I develop genital herpes. It was absolutely excruciating! Turns out it was Type 1, which is often thought of as oral herpes, but can cause genital outbreaks too. Apparently I got it from my husband. Although he hasn't had a cold sore in 10 years, he was apparently shedding the virus anyway. Some medication he was taking temporarily caused ED, so we practiced lots of alternative types of intimacy for a while, and...you get the picture. I was in terrible pain and feeling very sorry for myself when my doctor told me valacyclovir could help. Although I wasn't very hopeful, the pain decreased substantially in just a couple of hours. I was so grateful!"

• Andre
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 4, 2021

Valtrex (valacyclovir) "I have been using Valtrex daily since I was 19, now I am 36. It has been a life saver. I only breakout a couple times a year. Once a day and good healthy diet will really help with reducing your outbreaks and most importantly take it as proven to protect 50% to giving to your partner."

• Buster
• July 20, 2019

"Just got a breakout overnight. Woke up bubble blister formed and took my second round of 2 grams Valtrex generic, twice daily. The blister broke within 20 minutes of taking next dose of 2 grams Valtrex. So glad I had a bottle I always do on hand this drug is amazing I felt a tingle earlier in the week and I took two and took to 12 hours later nothing and then all of a sudden 3 days later and wake up to a bubble so I started another 2 grams this morning but it's already busted open and beginning to heal and this Valtrex I'm taking currently is drying it up it the stuff is amazing but you have to catch it right and that will depend on how bad it gets or doesn't get. "

• Girl
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 30, 2022

Valtrex (valacyclovir) "I am 21 now, I got diagnosed with herpes when I was 17 (got cheated on)- I carry the hsv1 strain but my outbreaks are vaginal. My first outbreak I’ll never forget, I could barely walk and it was horrible. I started suppressive therapy a few months later at 500mg daily when I started having outbreaks more frequently. Which actually worked for a while… for a few years actually. I had very little outbreaks, if any. About a year ago I began noticing more frequent outbreaks after having that nice break :( and so my doctor began prescribing me 1g daily. It definitely helped for a while but then I was back at having frequent outbreaks and when I seen her about a month ago she told me the virus should have been suppressed by now with the dosage I’ve been taking and I really shouldn’t be having any outbreaks… nothing is working for me and so she recommended I see an infectious disease specialist bc she suspects resistance and doesn’t really know how else to help me."