Prescribed Valtrex dosage - Herpes Message Board

keepOn · 06-16-2003, 09:54 PM

My doc prescribed 1 gram Valtrex twice a day for 10 days. Since my outbreak hasn't gone away I keep refilling. So I have taken 2 grams Valtrex daily for 30 days now. Does that seem safe/right to you?

It hasn't taken away my OB either

coopsie · 06-17-2003, 07:16 AM

Valtrex works for a lot of people, but it never worked for me. I was taking 500 mg, then a gram a day, but never two grams. I have since quit taking it completely.

My recommendation? Stop taking the valtrex and try something else. H-Balm worked really well for me to clear up my outbreaks quickly. For supression, try some the vitamins and herbs people are always talking about on this board. Good luck.

TheOneInFour · 06-17-2003, 10:47 AM

My understanding is that Valtrex is often taken in very high doses for shingles, so 2 grams a day is high but probably not unsafe. But I think I'd be a little concerned about taking it for so long a time at that dosage.

I really think you should go back to your doc to tell him/her that it's not working. You might want to try Famvir, another major antiviral. You might also want to try some of the alternative treatments discussed on this board, like Olive Leaf Extract, Oragano Oil, etc. (which your doc probably won't know anything about). Has there been no change at all in your symptoms over the 30 days?

TheOneInFour

[This message has been edited by TheOneInFour (edited 06-17-2003).]

keepOn · 06-17-2003, 04:41 PM

My whole situation is weird, I think. I may have had HSV2 for a while, but it never showed any bumps until I trimmed my pubic hairs. So I trimmed at the base of my penis, all in my pubic area, around my naval, and on my upper thigs. Soon after I shaved, I had bumps in all those exact areas. I thought I had some infection from the beard trimmer I used and that it would soon go away. Didn't happen, so I went to the doc's and I have Herpes in the exact spots I trimmed. Couple bumps in my naval, couple above my waist line, bunch in my pubic area, handful on my upper thighs, and a couple on the base of my penis. Does this seem odd to you guys?

The only symptoms I have are the bumps and minor tingling and itching. Some of the bumps have gone away since taking Valtrex, but not near all of them. They leave behind red scars also. But after 22 days of 2 grams a day I was hoping to see better results. So today I picked up some OOO and OLE to give that a go. Wish me luck.

TheOneInFour · 06-17-2003, 09:32 PM

It does seem strange to have it so widespread. Have you been actually tested, like with a swab culture on a fresh sore or a blood test? If you haven't, I'd strongly recommend you have this done, at least the blood test. I don't think you've specified the timeline on this, so if you test negative in the blood test, you might have to wait up to 4 months before you could trust a negative result or before it returns a positive one.

You're assuming it's HSV-2, which (if it's herpes at all) it quite likely is but it could also be HSV-1. Many doctors and websites equate genital herpes with being HSV-2 and in most cases it is, but sometimes it's HSV-1 (although that's usually pretty mild and infrequent in OBs...but again, not always). Best to get tested and find out for sure what it is.

I would really wonder about other causes though, if it's so widespread and resistant to Valtrex. If your doc won't test you properly, I'd suggest you get a second opinion. A dermatologist would be a good bet, since they get all kinds of skin conditions and symptoms.

Good luck. Let us know how you make out.

The1in4