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Alternative treatments for Herpes2

I started taking Valtrex for Herpes2,  and I feel anxious,depressed, and I have been waking up with bad headaches in the middle of the night. I don't know if it is all in my head, because I just tested postive for this, and I have been dealing with this for about 15 yrs. I am still shocked. I have been to several doctors who blew it off as a yeast infection. Does anyone know of any alternatives that work?
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101028 tn?1419603004
why not try famvir 2x/day suppressively and see if you tolerate that better?

grace
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Avatar universal
The Dr. wanted me to take it to prevent recurrences.  Honestly the outbreaks are better than they used to be.  I quit taking valtrex because of the headaches, and I was starting to get a rash-which happened to me before. I already have bad migraines.  She was only giving me 1 pill and day- and she recommended 2 x a day for 10 days.  I don't think I can tolerate it.  I would love to find another alternative with no side effects.
Thanks
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101028 tn?1419603004
Are you just taking it to treat a current ob or did you start on it suppressively - where you take valtrex every single day to help ward off recurrences of the virus?

Headaches are a known and common side effect of all 3 herpes antivirals.  

grace
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Avatar universal
My Doctor just gave me a sample over the weekend (500mg) and I have been up at 1:00 in the morning with horrible headaches.  I have migraines already and I sure don't want to deal with them being worse.  I am just hesitant to keep taking it. Is Acyclovir or famvir the same? The nurse told me that all the drugs are pretty much the same.
Thanks for your help!
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101028 tn?1419603004
Lysine is not the same thing as valtrex - not even sorta. Research shows that it doesn't really do much for herpes either. Most folks already get more than enough lysine naturally in their diets anyways.

How long have you been taking the valtrex? What dose are you taking?  Headaches are a normal side effect of the herpes antivirals but they typically will go away in a week or two.  What mad eyou start suppressive therapy?  You might want to consider switching to acyclovir or famvir instead and see if you do better on either of those. You can even start off at a low, subtheraputic dose and gradually increase your dose over the course of 2-3 weeks and see if you tolerate that better too.

grace
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Avatar universal
wow you poor girl. I would think its the valtrex. I dont get headaches from the valtrex. I get lack of appetite though! You can take l-lysine! Its sorta the same thing as valtrex but with out all the side effects. Some say it works some say it dont work.
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