Hi all! I am meeting with my Doctor to get antivirals on Thursday (he said he'd prescribe them for me, just wanted to do some blood work first to check my kidney function.) I have been taking the JOH regimen plus the B5/B6 for about a month now. At first I had 2.5 weeks of almost daily vertigo, but it's been 10 days now since an attack (yay!) and I feel a lot better. My question is this - should I start on the antivirals this week even though I'm feeling good? To complicate my situation, I am leaving the country to go trekking in Peru (away from any kind of healthcare) for 10 days starting May 9th. (This was planned when my Meniere's was in remission, ugh). I'm nervous about a 'setback' with the antivirals as they start working while I'm away. How many people had setbacks, returning vertigo, or negative side effects when they started their antivirals? I'm now wondering if I should wait to start them when I return or start them now? ANY INPUT IS APPRECIATED!!! Thank you
I’m no expert, but I was in a situation similar to yours (improvement with JOH and B vitamins but not 100% clear), considering starting anti virals, but had a big trip coming. I laid off the anti virals until post trip for the same reasons.
I have been on antivirals for a couple years now. I have also been on JOH for several years. I started the B5/B6 regimen a month ago. I know that's in reverse of what you're doing but just as a reference point I have had no setbacks. All the best on your trip!
I know it's really early but I just hit day 6 of AVs at 3g per day of valtrex without issue. I also take JOH, B5, and B6.
Thank you for the feedback everyone, still on the fence about starting. Ugh! @Tony Wilson - if that changes for you let me know!
Amy, if your meniere's is sodium-sensitive, you might consider bringing some homemade trail mix for sustenance in case the provided food gets to you. I didn't on a trip to Mexico and by week's end wished I had. It's something to think about as you weigh the ounces going into your trekking pack. Above all, have a fantabulous time!!!
I’ve been on antivirals for almost 3 months, also JOH 3 months and B5&6 2 months. No adverse effects from any of this. I’m slowly getting better, tinnitus is starting to FINALLY fade away. Yay!!!!
Tony, I'm right behind you. Same approach and just got valtrex today. About 3+ weeks on b5,b6 and 1 week on full JOH regime. Please keep me posted,,thnx
Amy if it was me I would want a more controlled situation so I could gauge any changes to my symptoms good or bad. If changes in your environment or diet aggravate your MM while you’re down there it could be misrepresented as the AV’s not working. Just a thought.
I have started with the antivirals. It's only been a day but I feel pretty good. Super nervous it's going to get bad after reading some other threads on this forum - I might stop just in case. Ugh - I just don't know what to do!
Amy try not to stress as I remember it my issues were more of a heightened sensitivity to sound, light, and motion. Not necessarily more vertigo or dizziness, this all passed shortly and everything started going the other direction. Then one day I was like “it’s been 2 weeks and no attacks” then it was 4 weeks next I know I turned a year. Be strong you will overcome.
Did you at the start, or do any of you still feel nauseous from taking anti virals? I am really feeling it even from splitting them into 500mg
@Rgv what do you mean by "really feeling it?" Are you getting attacks? I actually stopped taking the antivirals for now. I had two bad attacks after being on them for 2 days (and attack-free for over two weeks leading up to that). I will start them, understanding that I will probably encounter setbacks, when I get back from my trip. I'd love to be taking them now, but it just doesn't make sense to since they give me vertigo and I'll be leaving the country for two weeks. Will start up again, in ernest, on May 22nd when I return.
No attacks, just feeling really nauseous lately. Lost my appetite a bit too. I'm thinking maybe side effect from anti viral ?
June, not sure if the question was for me. I don't drink lots of water, maybe 1,2 glasses a day and that would be a lot. No liver or kidney issues, just been type 1 diabetic for 44 years, pretty under control. Drinking lots of water is an issue for me because I would urinate lots and that's a sign of high blood sugar so could get confusing for me
I have no idea about the diabetes interaction. I guess that is a good q for your dr. I have been told you should make sure to drink adequate water with antivirals. I cant quantify that though. I thought possibly that not enough water with the antivirals might contribute to the nausea. I personally did not have any side effects with antivirals. I did have my hearing get a little worse briefly.
I feel like drinking large amounts of water helps me with the meniere's symptoms, FWIW. It also seems to help if I eat or drink a little something I shouldn't.