Two questions for everyone out here who is taking Antivirals (Acyclovir): a) Does it make sense to take Acyclovir and L-Lysine at the same time? I have stopped taking the L-Lysine since I started the Acyclovir (3x800mg/day) since I figured it tries to achieve the same thing (i.e. keep the herpes virus under control). But I am wondering if I should continue to take the L-Lysine? b) Also, I am debating to get the flu shot, however I wonder if that makes sense while I am on Acyclovir. From my understanding, when you get the flu shot you are trying to get your immune system to build some antibodies against the flu virus. Will I suppress that mechanism if I am on antivirals when I get the flu shot? Thanks!
Acyclovir and lysine suppress herpes virus activity by two different biochemical mechanisms. They do not compete or interfere with each other. Each, alone, can be effective; but taking both at the same time works best. Be sure to be taking enough lysine, however, without food, as I've described here: http://www.zoominternet.net/~kcshop/JOH.pdf A flu shot has simply has no connection or action related to acyclovir, lysine, or other Meniere's treatment. Flu viruses are unrelated to the herpes viruses acyclovir and lysine suppress. A flu shot will neither suppress nor encourage herpes viruses. But the stark reality for this year's flu shots is that they work only against a small number of circulating flu viruses. Here in Ohio, there have been newpaper reports of high numbers of influenze hospitalizations, including those who "had their shots." Simply, a flu shot can work only for the flu virus strains included in the manufacture of the shot, and those were initially collected in Asia last autumn. It's always an immunological guess as to which strains will make their way to the US and proliferate. The evidence this winter is that there are many strains circulating that the vaccine simply cannot stop. There is profound evidence (virtually ignored by most medical practioners) that effective serum levels of vitamin D-3 do effectively support innate immune function and prevent influenze debilities. That's the reason flu is a late autumn-winter disease, at the time of year when no one gets any UVB radiation from the sun. UVB is required for the skin to make vitamin D, and by winter fat-stored reservoirs of summer-time vitamin D are exhausted; hence influenza spreads and proliferates with ease. Your better chances of avoiding winter colds and influenza result from taking a minimum of 5000 IU (not 500) of vitamin D-3 each day. But at that rate it can take a month or longer to elevate serum vitamin D levels. You can safely take 10,000 IU for two or three weeks as a loading dose. (Toxicity is never reached at any vitamin D consumption level of less than 100,000 IU [new evidence hikes that toxicity threshold to 200,000 IU/day]). I've been taking 5000 IU per day for over five years, and since having started this have never had a case of cold or influenza (same with my wife). --John of Ohio
So much is still unknown about all this. People have their theories but little is proved. We usually have to see what works for us. I believe less is more in the world of medicines. I used only antivirals and got complete relief. That being the case i had no reason to add any other ingredients. That is where i ould suggest you start. If that is not sufficient, then you can consider other options. As John said, different viruses. The antivirals we are speaking of here would affect things like chicken pox but not flu.
I should amend that to say, i would not expect the antivirals we are speaking of here to affect the efficacy of the flu virus since they are different viruses, but i do not know that for a fact. I do not know if there is any overlap.