Does anyone know anyone about using Tagamet (a.k.a cimetidine for treatment of stomach ulcers) for herpes treatment? I came across a number of articles over 20 years that discussed the use of this drug in dramatically enhancing immune function and therefore ridding patients of shingles and HSV.

Apparently, doctors and pharmaceutical companies don't recommend the drug either for lack of education or lack of desire since it's so cheap.

I'm very curious, so let me know if you've heard of it.

Read about it here: http://www.*******/magazine/mag2001/mar2001_report_tagamet_1.html

Just as a precaution, you aren't supposed to mix valtrex and tagamet without consulting a physician.

Also, here's that link again since I don't think it worked last time. It's in life extension magazine's march 2001 report.
http://www.*******/magazine/mag2001/mar2001_report_tagamet_1.html

I just read the article, thanks for posting it coopsie! They are saying that in studies, it was as effective as the expensive antivirals!! I was aghast and perplexed when I read that it’s manufactured by our old friend SmithKline who also make all of the popular antivirals. They are quite blunt about the reason they don’t market this as a herpes drug – the patent ran out. So, they would have to compete with generic brands and therefore make less money than Famvir or Valacyclovir. I’d like to quote a SmithKline representative when asked about the lack of promotion of Tagamet as a herpes drug “……..there’s nothing to gain from it.”

If all HSV+ people in the world could read that, would that enrage us (as a group) enough to boycott this monster? If not, then I’m afraid we deserve to live with this for our whole lives. All companies make their money from us – the consumer, we only have ourselves to blame. Everything in this world, sadly, comes down to one thing – money. Multinational corporations support the gov’t who make the laws. These laws dictate what medical schools can and can’t teach to students. Pharmaceuticals wouldn’t last long if doctors and researchers were allowed to use and research such things as the ozone cure. So, if the regulations made it legal to do so, the gov’t would lose the financial support. Why would any company support a gov’t that didn’t look after it’s interests? Can’t you see what we’re supporting when we buy these drugs? We are keeping ourselves down, allowing them to enslave us. How ironic it is: Profit from an inferior herpes drug being used to influence regulations to keep a real cure from being released.

Think about it, research it – you’ll see.

Thanks again for pointing that out.

Nonexist

1000 mg a day for treatment is a lot. I'm sure they would not suggest a dosage that would harm the body. I wish there were some studies showing the effectiveness of reducing shedding.

What exactly do they mean when stating treatment of tagament brings some HSV patients into remission? How do they confirm that information?

According to the article, 200 mg of cimedtidine (tagamet) 3 times a day and 400 mg at bedtime is the recommended doseage during an outbreak. (the recommended dosage for its primary function -- acidic stomach problems -- is 3 tablets daily). It has been used on AIDS patients and herpes patients with significant reduction in symptoms during and after the drug therapy.

HOWEVER, before anyone tries this, please find out more. It doesn't mix very well with valtrex (supposedly it causes the valtrex to be more potent) AND I have read on several discussion boards that it can be dangerous to take too much of it. (But like me, these are not doctors saying these things...). I also found one report that said long-term usage of the drug might be linked to temporary mania. But I imagine that within reasonable doseage (and for no longer than two weeks), it shouldn't be dangerous. It is a widely-used OTC drug, after all.

Anyway, just a thought. Ask your doc if you're interested and let us know if you try it!

I'm really interested in reading this article because in 1999 I took my son to the doctor to have a wart removed. After the wart was removed from his finger my doctor prescribed Tagament to prevent the wart from coming back. Warts are a virus.....Herpes is a virus....Hmmmm interesting.

Can anyone give me info on how I can read this article?

Thanks.

dazed and confused:

The link is posted above and worked for me. I found this very interesting.

I am continuing with the OOO and OLE and using acyclovir, but I hope to be able to quit the acyclovir in a few months. It's great to know that there is another alternative.

I called the druggist, who said that this is nothing new to him, but he cautioned me that tagamet is known for interactions with many other drugs, so if you are taking other meds you should ask a pharmacist before taking it.

Also found out that cimedtidine (sp?) use is VERY bad for those who are exposed to organophosphate pesticides, as it affects liver function. So be very careful as this can be deadly.

Leaving for Ely, MN with my kids to R&R next week. Take care, all you fellow herpetoids!!!!

Mutz

Hello! About 2 months ago I had my first OB of genital herpes. I've been trying to gather information about what is a virus, how it works and so on. I'm so glad I found this health board! You guys are GREAT!

Anyway, after my first OB, it has felt that it has never really cleared up in the spots where I had the worst OB's and that's on my two labias.

Besides taking a suppressive dose of Valtrex (500 mg), I've tried topically H-Balm, Zovirax (yee gads! expensive when you don't have insurance!) ... then my friend had some samples of Aldara (for genital warts)and Abreva and so I tried those also but with NO good results.

BUT! The other day, I picked up in the health food section a tube of SuperLysine Plus+ cream for cold sores that is packed with all sorts of great stuff! Main ingredient is Zinc Oxide ... interesting huh? Applied it topically to my labia and for the past 3 days have finally felt normal in that region! Plus I've started taking 200 mg of cimedtidine (generic tagamet) and just normal Lysine capsules 2 X's a day.

Hey? I know this stuff can be individualistic and you just have to experiment on what works for you. I really feel that the cimedtidine is a big contributing factor but I don't want to stop the Valtrex because of the "shedding" ... I'd sure like to know if cimetidine cuts down on the viral shedding? Does anyone know?

Also, from what I've found out, I'd be willing to go out of the country for oxygen treatments. It makes sense. Does anyone know if any foreign counry is doing that process?

This is a great board!

Ginger48~~You seem very optimistic about everything considering you've only had this 2 months! That's great http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks for mentioning what is working for you, as it gives us different options on new things to try.

I don't know much about the Tagament and "shedding" sorry, maybe someone else knows??

About the oxygen treatments, I too am willing to go anywhere this is being done (and successful). I am doing a lot of research about it and it seems pretty promising. I wish someone who has gone to a doctor and received oxygen/ozone therapy would post how it went for them! Most people experiment with it themselves it seems, and I'd be afraid I'd get to happy with it and do myself harm...haha...I tend to overdose all the treatments I've been using (OOO, Valtrex, OLE, tea tree oil, vitamins etc...)

Anyway~~Keep up your optimistic attitude!!!!!

I tried to look at that web site. Some of it is ******. Why is that and how can i get the correct address?

If you search for life extension magazine, go to their web site, click on 2001 archives, then the "March 2001" link, you'll see the article listed under REPORTS.

Found it!! Thank you very much!