Aciclovir

[Ellabella222]

Anyone know much about this drug? My Dad who is 82 was prescribed it for shingles. It has made him really poorly. I don’t even think it was shingles tbh. He’s stopped it now but it has left him really fatigued and with low sodium levels.

He’s a cancer patient anyway. Google says Aciclovir is not recommended for people who are immunocompromised.

I’m really worried about the effect this drug has had. Does anyone know much about it?

I work as a trained nurse in haematology, the unit I'm attached to delivers out-patient and in-patient treatment/care to patients with a variety of blood disorders (leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma etc.)

Due to the nature of these disorders the patients are more often than not immunocompromised. We give Aciclovir prophylactically (400mgs twice a day) to these patients to try to offer some anti-viral protection. I believe treatment dose for active shingles is 800mgs 5 times a day, but I could be wrong. It's been a while since I've been on the ward side.

In my experience it's generally well tolerated but these patients are often on a myriad of other medications, which can muddy the waters when looking at side effects.

Thanks. He has myeloma but not getting chemo currently. He has really reacted to this drug. Headaches, fatigue, nightmares.

He stopped taking it last week but is still really fatigued. He was fine before! Any idea how long it might take to work it’s way out of his system?

Or maybe it is the shingles making him tired. Though the rash has dried up,

If it was the aciclovir i would have thought it would be completely out his system in a day or 2 (think the half life is around 4 hours??)

If you have a contact number for the haem unit or CNS it may be worth a call just to see if they have any advice. Might be worth checking out renal function (just thinking how hot it's been, the possibility of dehydration)

Hope your dad starts to feel better soon x

Thanks. They were worried about kidney function so have done tests. He had low sodium levels.

His usual bloods were as they normally are. I can only think the shingles or this drug have had an impact. Thanks for your help.

It's pretty hefty. Talk to his GP and pharmacist.