Acyclovir

[deflatedbirthday]

I'm half way through a course of Acyclovir (800 mg five times a day) for shingles (only 4 spots but unfortunately developed Ramsey Hunt also). This is the second time in five years.

I felt no too bad for the first few days. The swelling on my face reduced and I just felt a little off it.

This morning... bam! I feel I've been run over several times. We've had to cancel our weekend away and I'm absolutely gutted. But there's no way I could have enjoyed it.

I've been in bed all day sleeping on and off. I ache all over, the worst is my finger nails aching. I'm having hot flushes and sweating profusely. My head is pounding and I feel so weak.

It this the side affects of the Acyclovir or something unrelated? Grateful if anyone has any experience of the same!

DH has had it in the past, it does make him feel pretty rubbish and flu like. Do phone 111 if you are concerned. I hope you feel better soon
www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/4335/pil#gref

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
headache
feeling dizzy
feeling or being sick
diarrhoea
stomach pains
rash
skin reaction after exposure to light (photosensitivity)
itching
feeling tired
unexplained fever (high temperature) and feeling faint, especially when standing up.

@WTHamIreading thank you! That list pretty much sums me up right now. I feel awful that our weekend has been ruined

Are you making sure to drink lots. Whenever I've taken it I've been told to drink more than usual as it can affect your kidneys.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

@AdditionalCharacter it's about the only thing I am doing. I haven't eaten much (trying to eat something dry with the tablets) I'll try to up it a bit more though.

That’s a good tip about drinking loads. I’ve only recently put two and two together and realised that after a day or two acyclovir was making me feel horrendous. It was genuinely a struggle to go downstairs and then come back up again- I felt completely exhausted and nauseous. It’s annoying because the tabs are amazing for knocking cold sores on the head but I think I’ll have to limit to 1-2 days max rather than the full course they recommend. Hope you feel better soon OP.