Does anyone know of a link or pdf I could share with my ENT about AV dosages, maybe Dr. Gacek's dosage? I've looked around for such at thing here and via Google without success. As I've posted elsewhere, my ENT prescribed Acyclovir 400 mg tablets 5x/day for 10 days, then 3x/day for 10 days, then 2x/day for 10 days. I'm 5 days into the 3x/day part. At the end of the 5x/day I was noticing some quite notable ear clearing and a tickly/sore feeling that felt maybe (I hope!) like healing.This followed some very weird tinnitus. I don't have MM vertigo, so I can't use that to judge how I'm doing. When I went to 3x/day I stopped having that more notable improvement, though a hint of the better ear clearing today. My ENT sees the viral theory as experimental, but was willing to give this a try. I hope I will get to try a higher dose for longer, and thought when I bring it up some documentation might help.
http://www.mm3admin.co.za/documents/docmanager/6e64f7e1-715e-4fd6-8315-424683839664/00056616.pdf This link seems to have an accessible version of Gacek's paper that describes dosages, etc.
Thank you Michel, that's just what I was looking for. I think I even did come across that article but didn't find the dosage part.
its on page 104, you can search pdf files, ctrl f The antiviral treatment protocol for patients with recurrent vertigo is as indicated below. 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. These dosages...................................
Thank you both. After I wrote this post I had 2 days of a clearer ear and better hearing and quieter tinnitus along with it. That was so nice. Now I'm back to stuffy. I'm getting to the end of the 3x/day days. I emailed my doctor today asking if I could increase the dose and stay that way until I'm convinced it's either working or not. It was great to be able to include that article.
In terms of your evaluation, the rule of thumb i was given, was try it for a month and if there is ANY improvement, continue for 2 more months. Complete results will not come all at once.
That makes sense to me, June. Thanks. I hope the doctor agrees (or gives me some understanding that I can make peace with).
I just heard back from the doctor. I'm going back to 5x/day. I'm so glad. Hoping this really works. Feeling grateful I found a doctor who is willing to try this.