acyclovir side effects - mood change

[nbh]

I have been taking Acyclovir 800mg for herpes in my ear canal. Since I have been taking it I have noticed a sudden change in mood - extremely irritable, angry and tearful, also very tired and generally feeling unwell. I'm wondering if this is a side effect of the medication, as the change in mood is so sudden.

Reason why i am wondering if this sudden mood change is associated with Acyclovir - I have been prescribed this 800mg dose many times before, but have been on antidepressants so sudden changes in mood would always be associated with my "depression".  I am no longer on antidepressants (cos no longer married!), so this sudden mood change has been quite a shock.

Any thoughts?

[gracefromHHP]

or are you just taking 800mg once a day? if so are you taking it 400mg 2x/day?

grace

[gracefromHHP]

How did they diagnose you with herpes inside your ear canal?

The dose they are giving you is the shingles dose. Ask if you can try the 400mg 3x/day for 5 day dose instead if this is a recurrence of hsv1.   Are you also on suppressive therapy - 400mg 2x/day everyday in between or are you just interested in starting that to avoid this from reoccuring so often?

grace

[nbh]

800mg fo 5 days.  

that's a relief to know  - i thought I was going mad - the mood change is quite frightening!
Is there another medication i can take? I need to take the prophylactic low dose as the herpes seems to occur quite frequently if i don't.  I'm reluctant to take anything know it seems to be the cuase of my sudden mood swings

[gracefromHHP]

This is an issue for some people with the herpes antivirals.

are you taking 800mg 3x/day for 2 days or 800mg 5x/day for 5 days?

grace