acyclovir dosage?

Discussion in 'Your Living Room' started by acujen, May 29, 2015.

  1. acujen

    acujen Member

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    Jun 20, 2014
    I can't seem to find the dose I should be taking for acyclovir. My Dr. gave me an RX, but I'm not sure how to take it.
     
  2. Vicki

    Vicki Guest

    Here is Dr Gacke's paper
    http://www.mm3admin.co.za/documents/docmanager/6e64f7e1-715e-4fd6-8315-424683839664/00056616.pdf
    on page 104 is his recommended doses:

    Discontinue all previous medical treatments; ensure that patients are cleared for normal
    renal and liver function; use acyclovir tabs 800 mg t.i.d. for 3 weeks and reexamine. If there
    is significant relief of vertigo, decrease to 800 mg b.i.d. for 3 weeks, then to 800 mg daily as a
    maintenance dose. If valacyclovir is selected (in those who fail to respond to acyclovir), use
    1 g t.i.d. for 3 weeks with taper to b.i.d. for a further 3 weeks and then 1 g daily as a maintenance
    dose. The starting dose of acyclovir was given for a longer period (3 weeks) than that
    used for zoster because it was felt necessary to cross the blood-brain barrier to reach ganglion
    and satellite cells with virus. Most patients experienced relief from vertigo in the first 2 weeks
    but some required a longer period. The gradual lowering dose was then used to find the
    lowest level maintenance dose for a given patient. Most were controlled on a single dose daily
    but occasionally a patient required an adjustment to 1,200 mg of acyclovir or 1,500 mg of
    valacyclovir.
     
  3. Vicki

    Vicki Guest

    t.i.d means 3 times a day
    b.i.d means 2 times a day
    1 gram (g)=1000 mg
    2 grams (g)=2000 mg
    3 grams(g) =3000 mg
     
  4. acujen

    acujen Member

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    Jun 20, 2014
    very helpful. thank you, vicki.
     
  5. acujen

    acujen Member

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    Jun 20, 2014
    Oh, one more thing. Should the lysine be discontinued when going on the antivirals?
     
  6. Vicki

    Vicki Guest

    JOH is the best one to answer that but I believe he has said in the past they can be taken together, but hopefully he will answer your question and give you a definite answer
     
  7. Sharon406

    Sharon406 Member

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    Mar 29, 2015
    I take 1200 mg acyclovir and 2000 mg Lysine every day. JOH has told me they work differently and safe to take together. I seemed to need the extra boost that lysine gives me to control my vertigo.
     
  8. acujen

    acujen Member

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    Jun 20, 2014
    Sharon, is the 1200mg the dose you've always been at, or one you've tapered down to?
     
  9. John of Ohio

    John of Ohio Active Member

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    May 17, 2014
    There is no reason whatsoever to discontinue lysine therapy while taking any of the prescription antiherpetic drugs. Lysine suppresses herpes activity differently from antiherpetics. Taking them at the same simply increases the chances of full control and suppress of the herpes infection in the inner ear.

    On the basis of markedly increased efficacy, I now recommend 3000 mg of lysine, in three 1000 mg doses spread out through the day (without food). Read closely the information here:
    http://www.zoominternet.net/~kcshop/JOH.pdf

    --John of Ohio
     
  10. acujen

    acujen Member

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    Jun 20, 2014
    Lysine without food and the antivirals with food, correct? So I'm not taking them at the same time.
     
  11. Sharon406

    Sharon406 Member

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    acujen, I started the Acyclovir at 800 mg 3 times a day for 3 weeks then went down to 1600 for 3 weeks then tried to go down to 800 a day but at 800 I started having attacks again and so went back to 1600 and worked down to 1200. For me, I need the Lysine along with the antiviral to feel the best. I saw a Dr in Denver in March and she convinced me to go off the acyclovir because she doesn't believe in the virus theory. Within a few days I was sick in bed again so needless to say I won't do that again! I take the antiviral with food and the lysine a couple hours after a meal.
     

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