Just Diagnosed - Herpes Message Board

joyce33 · 08-16-2007, 05:44 PM

Just tested positive with a blood test even though no lesions. Just had a few large pimples on buttocks a few weeks ago but then got prickly feeling throughout entire buttocks and genital area. My physician is prescribing valtrex. Are there any side effects and can you drink alocohol while on this? Can you use a hot tub without exposing other people?

nighthawk30 · 08-17-2007, 12:18 AM

i think that alcohol consumption lessens the effect of the medication. Not sure about the hot tub, but i wouldn't risk it. I haven't experienced any other side effects to the valtrex in, and have taken it for many years

oceana · 08-17-2007, 02:28 PM

Medical professionals will always tell you that alcohol should not be consumed with an antibiotic or an antiviral (Valtrex). But jeez. If you are taking it everyday that's equivalent to saying you can never have a drink. I think I'm under enough stress without that. So if I want a drink, I take the Valtrex with lots of water, wait at least an hour until it's completely out of my stomach, then wine, not beer (beer is higher in arginine.) I think once the drug is in your blood stream, the effect of alcohol is going to be minimal. But don't quote me. Doctors wouldn't recommend this.

catharine101 · 08-17-2007, 04:33 PM

Hi -

I'd be careful about consuming alcohol before consulting a Dr. It may be that it's just "not recommended". It may lessen the effect of medication, as a previous poster noted. Oceana's comment that once the medication is present the effect may be minimal may also be true. But none of us KNOWS. I do know that my ex-husband was on a certain arthritis medication, and he was FORBIDDEN to drink any alcohol or even have it cooked into food, as it caused really bad side effects when combined with the meds.

For this kind of thing, you really want to get a medical opinion, and not just the opinion of the masses... How it affects you may also be different than how it affects everyone else...

Cheers!